Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Iowa

Written by:
November 17, 2022
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Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Iowa

The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.

Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.

The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Iowa using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.

Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.

#50. Fremont County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 57 (4 new cases, +33% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,543 (1,569 total cases)
--- 17.9% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 402 (28 total deaths)
--- 24.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.7% (3,808 fully vaccinated)

#49. Harrison County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 57 (8 new cases, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,443 (3,715 total cases)
--- 3.7% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 698 (98 total deaths)
--- 115.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (7,523 fully vaccinated)

#48. Winnebago County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 58 (6 new cases, -75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,306 (3,345 total cases)
--- 17.6% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 454 (47 total deaths)
--- 40.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.7% (5,558 fully vaccinated)

#47. Keokuk County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 59 (6 new cases, +200% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,838 (2,340 total cases)
--- 16.9% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 517 (53 total deaths)
--- 59.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.6% (4,876 fully vaccinated)

#46. Muscatine County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 59 (25 new cases, -14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,541 (10,897 total cases)
--- 7.0% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 323 (138 total deaths)
--- 0.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.4% (26,629 fully vaccinated)

#45. Tama County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 59 (10 new cases, +25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,267 (4,427 total cases)
--- 4.4% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 576 (97 total deaths)
--- 77.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.2% (10,812 fully vaccinated)

#44. Des Moines County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 59 (23 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,426 (10,687 total cases)
--- 0.1% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 398 (155 total deaths)
--- 22.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.9% (20,624 fully vaccinated)

#43. Washington County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 59 (13 new cases, -28% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,483 (6,476 total cases)
--- 7.3% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 378 (83 total deaths)
--- 16.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.3% (12,811 fully vaccinated)

#42. Lyon County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 60 (7 new cases, -22% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,632 (3,013 total cases)
--- 6.7% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 442 (52 total deaths)
--- 36.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.5% (5,108 fully vaccinated)

#41. Pocahontas County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 60 (4 new cases, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,980 (1,852 total cases)
--- 1.9% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 423 (28 total deaths)
--- 30.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (3,541 fully vaccinated)

#40. Madison County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 61 (10 new cases, +43% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,661 (3,539 total cases)
--- 21.1% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 269 (44 total deaths)
--- 17.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.2% (9,012 fully vaccinated)

#39. Buchanan County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 61 (13 new cases, +44% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,006 (5,295 total cases)
--- 9.0% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 307 (65 total deaths)
--- 5.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.9% (11,634 fully vaccinated)

#38. Wayne County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 62 (4 new cases, -20% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,652 (1,459 total cases)
--- 17.5% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 512 (33 total deaths)
--- 58.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.0% (2,769 fully vaccinated)

#37. Cherokee County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 62 (7 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,467 (3,423 total cases)
--- 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 623 (70 total deaths)
--- 92.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.3% (6,105 fully vaccinated)

#36. Woodbury County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 62 (64 new cases, +28% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,954 (31,916 total cases)
--- 12.7% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 339 (350 total deaths)
--- 4.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.6% (60,404 fully vaccinated)

#35. Clayton County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 63 (11 new cases, -45% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,275 (3,909 total cases)
--- 18.9% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 444 (78 total deaths)
--- 37.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.2% (8,634 fully vaccinated)

#34. Floyd County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 64 (10 new cases, +11% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,898 (4,051 total cases)
--- 5.7% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 422 (66 total deaths)
--- 30.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.3% (8,490 fully vaccinated)

#33. Carroll County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 64 (13 new cases, -46% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,270 (5,499 total cases)
--- 0.7% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 382 (77 total deaths)
--- 17.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.9% (12,685 fully vaccinated)

#32. Taylor County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (4 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,983 (1,468 total cases)
--- 12.7% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 376 (23 total deaths)
--- 16.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.0% (2,940 fully vaccinated)

#31. Guthrie County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (7 new cases, +600% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,951 (2,667 total cases)
--- 9.2% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 440 (47 total deaths)
--- 35.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.8% (6,390 fully vaccinated)

#30. Page County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 66 (10 new cases, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,326 (3,675 total cases)
--- 11.4% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 338 (51 total deaths)
--- 4.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.7% (8,257 fully vaccinated)

#29. Black Hawk County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 67 (88 new cases, -4% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,423 (37,299 total cases)
--- 3.5% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 388 (509 total deaths)
--- 19.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.1% (81,524 fully vaccinated)

#28. Clinton County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 67 (31 new cases, +15% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,751 (13,349 total cases)
--- 4.7% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 353 (164 total deaths)
--- 9.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.1% (26,051 fully vaccinated)

#27. Pottawattamie County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (64 new cases, +68% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,913 (26,949 total cases)
--- 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 365 (340 total deaths)
--- 12.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.0% (55,890 fully vaccinated)

#26. Van Buren County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 71 (5 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,629 (1,594 total cases)
--- 17.6% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 383 (27 total deaths)
--- 18.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.9% (3,019 fully vaccinated)

#25. Montgomery County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 71 (7 new cases, +600% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,927 (2,472 total cases)
--- 9.2% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 575 (57 total deaths)
--- 77.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.6% (5,811 fully vaccinated)

#24. Union County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (9 new cases, -36% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,219 (3,087 total cases)
--- 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 441 (54 total deaths)
--- 36.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (6,432 fully vaccinated)

#23. Marshall County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (29 new cases, +38% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,522 (10,835 total cases)
--- 0.2% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 318 (125 total deaths)
--- 1.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.0% (26,769 fully vaccinated)

#22. Marion County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 75 (25 new cases, +25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,562 (8,500 total cases)
--- 6.9% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 391 (130 total deaths)
--- 20.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.3% (18,043 fully vaccinated)

#21. Cass County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 78 (10 new cases, +43% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,610 (3,159 total cases)
--- 10.4% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 639 (82 total deaths)
--- 97.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.5% (7,634 fully vaccinated)

#20. Cerro Gordo County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 80 (34 new cases, +26% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,145 (12,372 total cases)
--- 6.1% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 412 (175 total deaths)
--- 27.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.0% (27,572 fully vaccinated)

#19. Grundy County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 82 (10 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,488 (2,873 total cases)
--- 14.5% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 392 (48 total deaths)
--- 21.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.5% (7,766 fully vaccinated)

#18. Delaware County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 82 (14 new cases, +75% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,783 (4,556 total cases)
--- 2.5% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 406 (69 total deaths)
--- 25.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (9,516 fully vaccinated)

#17. Linn County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 82 (186 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,166 (61,588 total cases)
--- 1.1% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 277 (629 total deaths)
--- 14.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.5% (155,352 fully vaccinated)

#16. Adams County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 83 (3 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,208 (908 total cases)
--- 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 389 (14 total deaths)
--- 20.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.3% (2,063 fully vaccinated)

#15. Clay County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 87 (14 new cases, +180% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,915 (4,631 total cases)
--- 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 318 (51 total deaths)
--- 1.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.3% (8,541 fully vaccinated)

#14. Ida County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 87 (6 new cases, +50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,227 (2,005 total cases)
--- 6.4% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 714 (49 total deaths)
--- 120.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.9% (3,425 fully vaccinated)

#13. Butler County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 90 (13 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,300 (3,653 total cases)
--- 7.9% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 388 (56 total deaths)
--- 19.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.5% (8,452 fully vaccinated)

#12. Audubon County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 91 (5 new cases, -38% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,853 (1,256 total cases)
--- 16.8% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 418 (23 total deaths)
--- 29.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.6% (3,275 fully vaccinated)

#11. Louisa County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 91 (10 new cases, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,609 (2,826 total cases)
--- 6.8% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 589 (65 total deaths)
--- 81.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.4% (6,005 fully vaccinated)

#10. Johnson County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 92 (139 new cases, +16% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,419 (42,953 total cases)
--- 3.5% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 112 (169 total deaths)
--- 65.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 75.9% (114,678 fully vaccinated)

#9. Cedar County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 97 (18 new cases, +157% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,796 (4,805 total cases)
--- 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 231 (43 total deaths)
--- 28.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.6% (11,476 fully vaccinated)

#8. Dubuque County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 108 (105 new cases, +14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,421 (29,603 total cases)
--- 10.8% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 325 (316 total deaths)
--- 0.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.2% (64,387 fully vaccinated)

#7. Greene County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 113 (10 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,996 (1,955 total cases)
--- 19.9% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 293 (26 total deaths)
--- 9.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.6% (5,301 fully vaccinated)

#6. Mitchell County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 113 (12 new cases, +20% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,779 (2,729 total cases)
--- 6.1% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 463 (49 total deaths)
--- 42.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.8% (5,273 fully vaccinated)

#5. Chickasaw County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 117 (14 new cases, +27% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,526 (3,046 total cases)
--- 7.1% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 285 (34 total deaths)
--- 12.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.2% (6,703 fully vaccinated)

#4. Appanoose County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 121 (15 new cases, +200% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,437 (3,285 total cases)
--- 3.7% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 579 (72 total deaths)
--- 78.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.6% (6,035 fully vaccinated)

#3. Benton County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 121 (31 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,836 (6,882 total cases)
--- 2.3% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 312 (80 total deaths)
--- 3.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.5% (15,505 fully vaccinated)

#2. Lucas County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 151 (13 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,128 (2,075 total cases)
--- 12.2% less cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 384 (33 total deaths)
--- 18.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (3,993 fully vaccinated)

#1. Hancock County, IA

- New cases per 100k in the past week: 169 (18 new cases, +200% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,690 (3,156 total cases)
--- 8.1% more cases per 100k residents than Iowa
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 461 (49 total deaths)
--- 42.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Iowa
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.0% (5,416 fully vaccinated)

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