Quad Cities area health leaders worry that surge in COVID-19 cases could mean more deaths

SCOTT COUNTY, IOWA, Iowa — Health leaders from the Quad Cities area said they're seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. 

At the QC COVID-19 Coalition call on Tuesday, July 28, experts discussed the numbers and where cases are popping up.

Rock Island County has seen a 125% increase in cases, as of late July 2021.  Scott County has seen a 55% increase.

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Healthcare leaders say the increase is partially due to the spread of the Delta variant. 

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Data is showing that a younger population is being impacted, as well as those who are unvaccinated. 

"Our average age this month has been 36 to 37 years old, so it is a younger population" said Scott County Health Department's Amy Thoreson. "We have traditionally been seeing the percent of individuals younger far exceeding the percent of those who are in that 65+."

Health leaders on both sides of the river say they are concerned for the possibility that a rise in cases could mean a rise in COVID-19 deaths.