COVID Levels in Iowa
In the week ending 10 October 2026, wastewater virus levels in Iowa were High or Very High for COVID-19 at 2 of 11 sites, Flu A at 0 of 11 sites, RSV at 0 of 11 sites. COVID-19 was High or Very High at 18% of the state's sampling sites. Source: CDC wastewater surveillance.
Very High High Moderate Low Very Low
Sampling sites in Iowa 11
| Counties served | People served | COVID-19 | Flu A | RSV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk | 520,000 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Scott | 141,344 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Johnson | 74,828 | Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Story | 66,000 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Dubuque | 59,667 | High | Very Low | Very Low |
| Clinton | 29,300 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Marshall | 27,400 | High | Low | Very Low |
| Wapello | 25,529 | Low | Low | Very Low |
| Muscatine | 24,400 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
| Johnson | 23,000 | Very Low | Low | Low |
| Emmet | 5,904 | Very Low | Very Low | Very Low |
When levels are high where you live
- Stay current on vaccines for COVID-19 and flu, and RSV if you are 75+, 50–74 with risk factors, pregnant, or have an infant.
- Test if you have symptoms; antivirals for COVID-19 and flu work best in the first days and are meant for people at higher risk.
- A well-fitting mask in crowded indoor places and better ventilation cut the risk for you and for people around you.
- Stay home when sick. Outbreak news is in our epidemic record.
What this page shows, and what it misses
CDC's weekly wastewater viral activity level for each sampling site — a treatment plant or a point upstream — compared with that site's own baseline, in five categories from Very Low to Very High. State rows count sites; CDC's own state level, on its map, weighs sites differently and can differ from what these counts suggest. Places not on a sewer system, and sites that did not report this week, are not covered. Wastewater shows community spread, not the number of cases.
Data: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Wastewater Surveillance System, "CDC Wastewater Viral Activity Level for SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A and RSV" (data.cdc.gov) — public domain U.S. Government work.