IOWA CITY, Iowa — The number of Iowa residents dying from the coronavirus is quickly rising again after weeks of increasing hospitalizations and outbreaks at nursing homes.

The Iowa Department of Public Health reported 31 new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, the highest daily figure since the beginning of the pandemic. The deaths didn’t all happen in a 24-hour period, but were only confirmed to state officials.

At the state’s peak for deaths in May, an average of about 14 people were dying daily from the coronavirus. A month ago, Iowa was averaging about six deaths a day, and the rate has climbed to about nine a day over the last two weeks. In all, 1,582 people have died since March.

State data updated Tuesday evening showed a record 534 people hospitalized with COVID-19.