Iowa Department of Public Health officials announced 302 new coronavirus cases Thursday, increasing the statewide total to 7,145.

At her morning press briefing Thursday, Gov. Kim Reynolds reported that more than half of the new positive tests were recorded in three counties. Black Hawk, Dallas and Polk accounted for 189 of the new cases combined.

COVID-19 has now claimed 162 lives in Iowa. State officials reported an additional 14 deaths Thursday, the highest single-day total so far.

Five people who died were Muscatine County adults, all over the age of 61; three were Polk County adults, all over the age of 81; and three were Linn County adults, all between the ages of 61 and 80. The other deaths involved a Dubuque County adult between the ages of 41 and 60, a Marshall County adult between the ages of 41 and 60, and a Scott County adult over the age of 81.

State health officials said 335 people are currently hospitalized in Iowa with symptoms of the coronavirus. The patients include 322 Iowans and 13 out-of-state residents.

State health officials reported that 59 patients are being treated right now in area counties, including 38 in Black Hawk and 21 in Marshall. Additionally, 15 people are hospitalized in Dubuque County and seven in Tama County. There are currently four patients in Benton County, three in Hardin County, and one each in Bremer County, Delaware County and Grundy County.

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