MASON CITY — For the first time in a week, the number of those recovering from COVID-19 in north-central Iowa has outpaced the number of new cases.

In the 24-hour period leading up to 11 o’clock this morning, 17 new cases were reported in our listening area while 34 more north-central Iowans have recovered. The active case count in north-central Iowa between Sunday and today dropped from 1976 to 1959.

One new case of COVID-19 was reported in Cerro Gordo County in the same 24-hour period while 15 new recoveries were reported. The Cerro Gordo County active case count dropped from 467 to 453.

No new deaths have been reported in north-central Iowa since Friday.

In the north-central Iowa medical region, the number of those hospitalized with COVID-19 is at 46, down three from Sunday. Five are in an intensive care unit with four being on a ventilator.

The 10-county listening area’s 14-day positivity average is 15.4% while the past seven day average is at 13%.