Ames and Iowa City ranked worst metro areas for COVID-19 outbreak

(KWWL) — Ames and Iowa City are among the worst areas for growing cases of COVID-19, according to an interactive graph from the New York Times.

Ames is currently listed as No. 1 with 964 new cases relative to their population of 97,117 in the last two weeks. In comparison, Iowa City was ranked No. 2 with 1,664 new cases in relation to their population of 173,105.

As of 11:30 a.m., the state dashboard reports a positivity rate of 22.7% for Johnson County and a positivity rate of 21.2% for Story County.

In response to the rising numbers, Gov. Kim Reynolds has ordered bars in six Iowa counties to close, which includes Johnson and Story.