Webster County Public Health has reported 104 new COVID-19 cases and one new death since Friday, bringing the county’s total caseload to 1,940.

In the last 25 days, Webster County has gained 504 new cases, a 35% increase that has accelerated the county’s movement toward the 2,000 case mark. On Oct. 2, Webster County had 1,436 cases.

In the last two months, cases in the county have virtually doubled. On Aug. 26, Webster County’s total caseload was 971.

Of the county’s cases, 148 remain active under Public Health monitoring. Webster County now has 15 deaths, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health, up one since the last COVID-19 update.

Cases fall into the following age categories:

• Children (age 0-17): 142.

• Adults (age 18-40): 846.

• Middle-aged adults (age 41-60): 600.

• Older adults (age 61-80): 277.

• Elderly adults (age 81+): 75.

An advisement routinely issued regarding masks and social distancing with each COVID-19 update from WCPH was notably more stern with Tuesday’s news release.

“Webster County Public Health Department reminds residents to NOT congregate in large settings and to consistently and correctly wear a mask in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19,” the release said.

Hospitalization rates in Iowa have more than doubled since mid-September, hitting a new record high on Tuesday when 564 Iowans were in hospitals due to COVID-19.

Medical experts have raised the alarm at the escalating spike of infections, which many fear could worsen as cold weather drives people inside.

The White House coronavirus task force has repeatedly urged state leaders to take new prevention measures like face mask mandates or bar closures, suggestions rebuffed just as many times by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

In its Oct. 4 report, the task force said Iowa is suffering from “many preventable deaths.”