(Radio Iowa) – The number of Iowans hospitalized for treatment of COVID-19 has been on a steady uptick this month. As of early this (Thursday) morning (3:45-a.m.), 195 Iowans are hospitalized, five more than yesterday, and up more than 22 percent since July 1st. Governor Kim Reynolds says the majority of TOTAL positive cases this month are concentrated in 10 of Iowa’s counties — and among younger adults.

“We know where the positive cases are occurring and why and we’re carefully considering whether additional targeted mitigation efforts are necessary to slow the spread in some areas,” the governor says. The average age of those testing positive for the virus was 63 in March, when the first cases were confirmed in Iowa. This week the average age has dropped to 39. Reynolds has made it clear she may re-impose some restrictions on bars as a result of the increase in confirmed infections among young Iowans.

“You will not see me shut down the entire state,” Reynolds says. “We know where the increases are taking place. We have some idea of what we believe it may be tied to and so we will target our response based on the information that the Department of Public Health and the epidemiologist team is collecting.”

More than 391-thousand Iowans have taken a COVID test this year. Over 36, 640 have tested positive, and nearly 92-hundred of them currently have an active infection.