The average daily number of newly confirmed COVID-19 cases in Iowa is up 50 percent from two weeks ago, and up almost 67 percent from one week ago, according to the latest data from the New York Times and Washington Post.

As of Sunday, Iowa’s seven-day average of confirmed new cases each day was 128, the Times reported. In early July, that number was as low as 13, although the relatively small number of cases now cropping up means that an increase of only a few dozen cases per day translates to a big percentage increase.

The Washington Post’s COVID-19 tracker indicates that new, daily reported cases are up 66.7 percent from one week ago, while COVID-related hospitalizations have increased 4.6 percent over last week.

In Polk County, the average daily number of newly confirmed cases is up 53 percent from two weeks ago, with the county now averaging 16 new cases per day, according to the Times. Hospitalizations in the county now average 16, which represents a 61 percent increase from two weeks ago.

Statewide, there are an estimated 185 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, which is equal to the number recorded in mid-March and represents a significant increase from the 102 hospitalizations recorded on June 21.

Since mid-May, deaths reported each day in Iowa due to COVID-19 have averaged between one and four.

Among the Iowa counties with the biggest per capita case counts:

• Webster County: 28 cases per 100,000 residents. Now averaging 10 new cases per day. Percentage increase in new cases over two weeks ago: 106 percent.

• Calhoun County: 27 cases per 100,000 residents. Now averaging three new cases per day. Percentage increase in new cases over two weeks ago: 260 percent.

• Hancock County: 16 cases per 100,000 residents. Now averaging two new cases per day. Percentage increase in new cases over two weeks ago: 300 percent.

• Adams County: 16 cases per 100,000 residents. Now averaging fewer than one new case per day. Percentage increase in new cases over two weeks ago: 100 percent.

• Franklin County: 14 cases per 100,000 residents. Now averaging one new case per day. Percentage increase in new cases over two weeks ago: 100 percent.

As would be expected, the counties with the highest daily average of new cases are, generally, those with the biggest population:

• Black Hawk County: Daily average of new cases is 16, which reflects a 23 percent increase from two weeks ago.

• Polk County: Daily average of new cases is 16, which reflects a 53 percent increase from two weeks ago.

• Webster County: Daily average of new cases is 10, which reflects a 106 percent increase from two weeks ago.

• Linn County: Daily average of new cases is six, which reflects a 22 percent increase from two weeks ago.

• Des Moines County: Daily average of new cases is five, which reflects a 125 percdent increase from two weeks ago.

• Scott County: Daily average of new cases is five, which reflects a 71 percent increase from two weeks ago.

• Pottawattamie County: Daily average of new cases is three, which reflects a 71 percent increase from two weeks ago.

When it comes to vaccinations, the counties with the highest percentage of population fully vaccinated are largely in eastern Iowa, while counties near the southern and western borders of the state have the state’s lowest vaccination rates

The five Iowa counties with the highest vaccination rates are Johnson, Linn, Dubuque, Boone and Polk. The counties with the lowest vaccination rates are Davis, with Decatur, Lyon, Van Buren, Wayne and Sioux counties all tied at 33 percent.

When it comes to vaccine acceptance, Iowa is Iowa stands at 64.7 percent.