As of Wednesday afternoon April 23, more than 850,000 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., by far the most of any country.
The virus has quickly become the nation’s most common cause of death. In the last week, at least 20,000 people in the U.S. died from COVID-19, more than the average weekly deaths from cancer, heart disease, or car crashes.
Within the United States, the virus has spread rapidly amid a lack of wide-scale testing and varying levels of statewide social distancing measures. So far, fewer than 3.2 million COVID-19 tests have been administered, or 10 for every 1,000 people nationwide.
In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., Mark Seidner, associate professor of infectious diseases at Harvard University and clinician at Massachusetts General Hospital, explained that with no vaccine and no effective treatment options, “social distancing is the only intervention we have currently to stop the epidemic.”
How effective is social distancing?
In the study, “Social Distancing to Slow the U.S. COVID-19 Epidemic: Interrupted Time-Series Analysis,” a preprint of a non-peer reviewed study published by Harvard infectious disease experts on April 8, statewide social distancing measures were associated with a decrease in U.S. COVID-19 growth.
“Based on the size of the epidemic at the time of implementation in each state, social distancing measures were associated with a decrease of 3,090 cases at 7 days, and 68,255 cases at 14 days, after implementation,” wrote the study’s researchers.
Of the eight states with no statewide stay-at-home orders, five are among the 10 states where the virus spread the fastest over the last seven days. Here are every state’s rules for staying at home and social distancing.
According to Seidner, how well a state is testing for the virus and how effectively it is interrupting transmission of the virus by implementing social distancing are the two major factors determining the size and spread of a state’s COVID-19 outbreak. These two aspects of the response also heavily depend on one another. “Social distancing relies on testing to be effective because if you don’t know the rate at which the epidemic is growing or hopefully slowing, [then] you don’t know when to relax it [and] you don’t know when to institute it.”
How effectively are states testing for COVID-19?
The states testing larger shares of their populations are reporting higher confirmed cases per resident. All five of the states with the most COVID-19 cases per capita have testing rates considerably higher than the nationwide average of 989 tests per 100,000 people.
Seidner noted that high testing rates and high confirmed cases feed one another. “The more testing you do the more cases you’re going to find, but you’re also much more likely to expand testing in areas you think are hot spots” These are the states with the highest number of COVID cases.
Seidner explained that while U.S. preparedness for the outbreak could have been much better, the wide-scale testing that is so critical to a proper epidemic response is a massive undertaking. From escalating production of testing supplies (swabs, tubes, and fluid to preserve the virus, and platforms to run the tests) to hiring extra medical staff needed to administer and process the tests to managing the retesting required in contact tracing, “you’re really asking the diagnostic community to go from zero to millions in a week or two.”
Population density appears to be a major factor in the spread of the virus.
Seven of the nation’s most crowded states, including New Jersey with a nation-leading density of 1,021 people per square mile, are among the 10 states with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases per capita. The states with the lowest cases per capita tend to be more sparsely populated.
More recently, the growth in the numbers of confirmed cases has started to spike in some states while it has started to slow in others. In the past week, the number of cases grew by 75.1% in one state, while the seven-day percent change was as low as 5.8% growth in another.
To determine the states where the virus is growing the fastest right now, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths for the seven days through April 23 from state and local health departments. States were ranked on the percent change from total cases on April 16 to total cases on April 23.
Click here to see the states where the virus is growing the fastest right now.
50. Montana
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +5.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 41.3 per 100,000 — the fewest (Montana total: 439)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 39.1 per 100,000 — 3rd fewest (Montana total: 415)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 7 (Montana total: 14)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,090 per 100,000 people — 20th most (Montana total tests: 11,583)
> Population density: 7.2 people per square mile — 3rd lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/13/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/28/2020): 15 days
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49. Vermont
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +7.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 131.4 per 100,000 — 19th most (Vermont total: 823)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 122.6 per 100,000 — 17th most (Vermont total: 768)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 5 (Vermont total: 40)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 2,149 per 100,000 people — 6th most (Vermont total tests: 13,462)
> Population density: 65.1 people per square mile — 21st lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/7/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 17 days
48. Hawaii
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +9.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 41.7 per 100,000 — 2nd fewest (Hawaii total: 592)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 38.1 per 100,000 — 2nd fewest (Hawaii total: 541)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 3 (Hawaii total: 12)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 129.9 people per square mile — 20th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/25/2020): 19 days
Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images
47. Washington
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +10.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 163.0 per 100,000 — 17th most (Washington total: 12,282)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 148.0 per 100,000 — 15th most (Washington total: 11,152)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 99 (Washington total: 682)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,925 per 100,000 people — 11th most (Washington total tests: 145,031)
> Population density: 105.7 people per square mile — 23rd highest
> First confirmed case: 1/21/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/23/2020): 62 days
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46. Wyoming
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +10.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 56.4 per 100,000 — 7th fewest (Wyoming total: 326)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 51.2 per 100,000 — 7th fewest (Wyoming total: 296)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 4 (Wyoming total: 6)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 634 per 100,000 people — the fewest (Wyoming total tests: 3,664)
> Population density: 5.9 people per square mile — 2nd lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/11/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
45. Alaska
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +11.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 45.4 per 100,000 — 3rd fewest (Alaska total: 335)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 40.7 per 100,000 — 4th fewest (Alaska total: 300)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: none (Alaska total: 9)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,472 per 100,000 people — 15th most (Alaska total tests: 10,858)
> Population density: 1.1 people per square mile — the lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/12/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/28/2020): 16 days
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44. Louisiana
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +12.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 542.0 per 100,000 — 6th most (Louisiana total: 25,258)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 483.5 per 100,000 — 3rd most (Louisiana total: 22,532)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 317 (Louisiana total: 1,473)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 3,040 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (Louisiana total tests: 141,672)
> Population density: 89.0 people per square mile — 25th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/9/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/23/2020): 14 days
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43. Maine
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +13.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 67.8 per 100,000 — 8th fewest (Maine total: 907)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 59.5 per 100,000 — 16th fewest (Maine total: 796)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 12 (Maine total: 39)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 37.8 people per square mile — 12th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/12/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/2/2020): 21 days
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
42. New York
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +15.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 1,316.2 per 100,000 — the most (New York total: 257,216)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 1,137.5 per 100,000 — the most (New York total: 222,284)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 3,110 (New York total: 15,302)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 3,428 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (New York total tests: 669,982)
> Population density: 358.2 people per square mile — 7th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/1/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/22/2020): 21 days
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41. Michigan
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +16.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 339.8 per 100,000 — 7th most (Michigan total: 33,966)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 292.7 per 100,000 — 7th most (Michigan total: 29,263)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 720 (Michigan total: 2,813)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 103.4 people per square mile — 24th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/10/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 14 days
40. Idaho
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +17.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 100.7 per 100,000 — 22nd fewest (Idaho total: 1,766)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 85.9 per 100,000 — 24th most (Idaho total: 1,507)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 10 (Idaho total: 51)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,011 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (Idaho total tests: 17,730)
> Population density: 21.0 people per square mile — 7th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/13/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/25/2020): 12 days
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39. Massachusetts
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +18.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 551.7 per 100,000 — 5th most (Massachusetts total: 38,077)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 466.2 per 100,000 — 4th most (Massachusetts total: 32,181)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 461 (Massachusetts total: 1,706)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 2,351 per 100,000 people — 5th most (Massachusetts total tests: 162,241)
> Population density: 654.0 people per square mile — 3rd highest
> First confirmed case: 2/1/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 52 days
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38. Florida
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +18.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 129.7 per 100,000 — 20th most (Florida total: 27,631)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 109.6 per 100,000 — 19th most (Florida total: 23,340)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 264 (Florida total: 945)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,364 per 100,000 people — 17th most (Florida total tests: 290,476)
> Population density: 323.9 people per square mile — 8th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/1/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/3/2020): 33 days
37. Oregon
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +18.6%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 49.1 per 100,000 — 5th fewest (Oregon total: 2,059)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 41.4 per 100,000 — 6th fewest (Oregon total: 1,736)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 14 (Oregon total: 78)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 00 per 100,000 people — (Oregon total tests: 00)
> Population density: 42.6 people per square mile — 13th lowest
> First confirmed case: 2/28/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/23/2020): 24 days
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36. Missouri
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +20.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 100.2 per 100,000 — 21st fewest (Missouri total: 6,137)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 83.4 per 100,000 — 25th fewest (Missouri total: 5,111)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 56 (Missouri total: 208)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 967 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (Missouri total tests: 59,266)
> Population density: 87.9 people per square mile — 23rd lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/7/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/6/2020): 30 days
35. South Carolina
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +21.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 93.6 per 100,000 — 18th fewest (South Carolina total: 4,761)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 77.3 per 100,000 — 23rd fewest (South Carolina total: 3,931)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 31 (South Carolina total: 140)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 848 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (South Carolina total tests: 43,111)
> Population density: 158.8 people per square mile — 18th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/6/2020): 31 days
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34. Nevada
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +22.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 134.5 per 100,000 — 18th most (Nevada total: 4,081)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 109.4 per 100,000 — 20th most (Nevada total: 3,321)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 45 (Nevada total: 187)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,117 per 100,000 people — 19th most (Nevada total tests: 33,888)
> Population density: 27.4 people per square mile — 9th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/5/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/1/2020): 27 days
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33. Arizona
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +24.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 73.2 per 100,000 — 10th fewest (Arizona total: 5,251)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 59.0 per 100,000 — 15th fewest (Arizona total: 4,234)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 58 (Arizona total: 208)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 769 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (Arizona total tests: 55,152)
> Population density: 62.9 people per square mile — 19th lowest
> First confirmed case: 1/26/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/31/2020): 65 days
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
32. Wisconsin
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +25.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 83.3 per 100,000 — 16th fewest (Wisconsin total: 4,845)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 66.7 per 100,000 — 18th fewest (Wisconsin total: 3,875)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 49 (Wisconsin total: 246)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 88.8 people per square mile — 24th lowest
> First confirmed case: 2/5/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/25/2020): 49 days
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31. Tennessee
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +25.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 115.8 per 100,000 — 25th most (Tennessee total: 7,842)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 92.5 per 100,000 — 21st most (Tennessee total: 6,262)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 25 (Tennessee total: 166)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,698 per 100,000 people – 13th most (Tennessee total tests: 114,980)
> Population density: 160.6 people per square mile — 17th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/5/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/31/2020): 26 days
Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images
30. Colorado
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +25.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 191.0 per 100,000 — 14th most (Colorado total: 10,878)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 152.3 per 100,000 — 13th most (Colorado total: 8,675)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 134 (Colorado total: 508)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 889 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (Colorado total tests: 50,645)
> Population density: 54.7 people per square mile — 14th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/5/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/26/2020): 21 days
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29. West Virginia
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +27.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 52.0 per 100,000 — 6th fewest (West Virginia total: 939)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 40.9 per 100,000 — 5th fewest (West Virginia total: 739)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 13 (West Virginia total: 26)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,431 per 100,000 people — 16th most (West Virginia total tests: 25,836)
> Population density: 74.5 people per square mile — 22nd lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/17/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 7 days
28. New Jersey
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +27.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 1076.1 per 100,000 — 2nd most (New Jersey total: 95,865)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 845.4 per 100,000 — 2nd most (New Jersey total: 75,317)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 1,545 (New Jersey total: 5,063)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,938 per 100,000 people — 10th most (New Jersey total tests: 172,612)
> Population density: 1021.3 people per square mile — the highest
> First confirmed case: 3/4/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/21/2020): 17 days
27. Alabama
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +28.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 115.3 per 100,000 — 25th fewest (Alabama total: 5,635)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 90.1 per 100,000 — 22nd most (Alabama total: 4,404)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 66 (Alabama total: 203)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 990 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (Alabama total tests: 48,387)
> Population density: 93.2 people per square mile — 25th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/13/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/4/2020): 22 days
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26. Oklahoma
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +28.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 76.5 per 100,000 — 14th fewest (Oklahoma total: 3,017)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 59.8 per 100,000 — 17th fewest (Oklahoma total: 2,357)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 48 (Oklahoma total: 179)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 781 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (Oklahoma total tests: 30,795)
> Population density: 56.4 people per square mile — 16th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
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25. Texas
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +28.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 73.4 per 100,000 — 11th fewest (Texas total: 21,069)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 57.3 per 100,000 — 14th fewest (Texas total: 16,455)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 150 (Texas total: 543)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 755 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (Texas total tests: 216,783)
> Population density: 106.9 people per square mile — 22nd highest
> First confirmed case: 2/12/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/2/2020): 50 days
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24. Utah
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +28.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 109.0 per 100,000 — 24th fewest (Utah total: 3,445)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 84.9 per 100,000 — 25th most (Utah total: 2,683)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 13 (Utah total: 34)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 2,419 per 100,000 people — 4th most (Utah total tests: 76,460)
> Population density: 37.2 people per square mile — 11th lowest
> First confirmed case: 2/25/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
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23. Pennsylvania
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +28.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 278.6 per 100,000 — 9th most (Pennsylvania total: 35,684)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 216.6 per 100,000 — 8th most (Pennsylvania total: 27,735)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 915 (Pennsylvania total: 1,622)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 278.1 people per square mile — 9th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/1/2020): 26 days
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22. Georgia
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +28.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 200.6 per 100,000 — 13th most (Georgia total: 21,102)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 155.6 per 100,000 — 12th most (Georgia total: 16,368)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 229 (Georgia total: 846)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 894 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (Georgia total tests: 94,072)
> Population density: 177.0 people per square mile — 16th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/2/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/3/2020): 32 days
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21. Indiana
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +30.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 185.9 per 100,000 — 15th most (Indiana total: 12,438)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 142.6 per 100,000 — 16th most (Indiana total: 9,542)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 184 (Indiana total: 661)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,038 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (Indiana total tests: 69,470)
> Population density: 183.7 people per square mile — 15th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 18 days
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20. New Hampshire
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +31.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 117.1 per 100,000 — 24th most (New Hampshire total: 1,588)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 89.3 per 100,000 — 23rd most (New Hampshire total: 1,211)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 14 (New Hampshire total: 48)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 145.1 people per square mile — 19th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/2/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/27/2020): 25 days
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19. Maryland
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +31.6%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 234.9 per 100,000 — 11th most (Maryland total: 14,193)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 178.5 per 100,000 — 11th most (Maryland total: 10,784)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 192 (Maryland total: 584)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 487.1 people per square mile — 5th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/5/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/30/2020): 25 days
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18. North Carolina
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +32.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 69.5 per 100,000 — 9th fewest (North Carolina total: 7,220)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 52.6 per 100,000 — 9th fewest (North Carolina total: 5,465)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 111 (North Carolina total: 242)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 870 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (North Carolina total tests: 90,336)
> Population density: 192.9 people per square mile — 14th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/3/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/30/2020): 27 days
17. Mississippi
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +35.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 163.9 per 100,000 — 16th most (Mississippi total: 4,894)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 121.3 per 100,000 — 18th most (Mississippi total: 3,624)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 64 (Mississippi total: 193)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,803 per 100,000 people — 12th most (Mississippi total tests: 53,835)
> Population density: 61.7 people per square mile — 18th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/11/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (4/3/2020): 23 days
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Source: cemillerphotography / Flickr
16. Illinois
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +36.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 275.5 per 100,000 — 10th most (Illinois total: 35,108)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 202.0 per 100,000 — 10th most (Illinois total: 25,733)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 493 (Illinois total: 1,565)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,290 per 100,000 people — 18th most (Illinois total tests: 164,346)
> Population density: 220.0 people per square mile — 12th highest
> First confirmed case: 1/24/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/21/2020): 57 days
15. New Mexico
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +38.4%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 105.5 per 100,000 — 23rd fewest (New Mexico total: 2,210)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 76.2 per 100,000 — 22nd fewest (New Mexico total: 1,597)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 27 (New Mexico total: 71)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,968 per 100,000 people — 8th most (New Mexico total tests: 41,232)
> Population density: 17.2 people per square mile — 6th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/11/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 13 days
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Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images News via Getty Images
14. Kentucky
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +38.9%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 75.5 per 100,000 — 12th fewest (Kentucky total: 3,373)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 54.4 per 100,000 — 11th fewest (Kentucky total: 2,429)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 56 (Kentucky total: 185)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 110.6 people per square mile — 21st highest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/26/2020): 20 days
Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
13. California
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +39.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 95.3 per 100,000 — 20th fewest (California total: 37,707)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 68.5 per 100,000 — 20th fewest (California total: 27,108)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 549 (California total: 1,438)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 241.7 people per square mile — 11th highest
> First confirmed case: 1/25/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/19/2020): 54 days
Source: Photo by Jamie Squire / Getty Images News via Getty Images
12. Kansas
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +39.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 75.9 per 100,000 — 13th fewest (Kansas total: 2,211)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 54.5 per 100,000 — 12th fewest (Kansas total: 1,588)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 30 (Kansas total: 110)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 00 per 100,000 people — (Kansas total tests: 00)
> Population density: 35.4 people per square mile — 10th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/7/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/30/2020): 23 days
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Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images
11. Connecticut
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +41.5%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 628.9 per 100,000 — 3rd most (Connecticut total: 22,469)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 444.6 per 100,000 — 5th most (Connecticut total: 15,884)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 573 (Connecticut total: 1,544)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,957 per 100,000 people — 9th most (Connecticut total tests: 69,918)
> Population density: 644.5 people per square mile — 4th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/8/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/23/2020): 15 days
Source: Photo by Drew Angerer / Getty News Images via Getty Images
10. South Dakota
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +41.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 210.6 per 100,000 — 12th most (South Dakota total: 1,858)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 148.6 per 100,000 — 14th most (South Dakota total: 1,311)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 2 (South Dakota total: 9)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,524 per 100,000 people — 14th most (South Dakota total tests: 13,446)
> Population density: 11.4 people per square mile — 5th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/10/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
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Source: Adam Bettcher / Getty Images News via Getty Images
9. Minnesota
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +42.3%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 48.5 per 100,000 — 4th fewest (Minnesota total: 2,721)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 34.1 per 100,000 — the fewest (Minnesota total: 1,912)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 85 (Minnesota total: 179)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 879 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (Minnesota total tests: 49,344)
> Population density: 64.5 people per square mile — 20th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/6/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/27/2020): 21 days
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8. Arkansas
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +47.7%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 79.4 per 100,000 — 15th fewest (Arkansas total: 2,392)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 53.8 per 100,000 — 10th fewest (Arkansas total: 1,620)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 7 (Arkansas total: 44)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 1,043 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (Arkansas total tests: 31,442)
> Population density: 56.7 people per square mile — 17th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/11/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
Source: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images News via Getty Images
7. Virginia
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +49.0%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 120.5 per 100,000 — 22nd most (Virginia total: 10,266)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 80.9 per 100,000 — 24th fewest (Virginia total: 6,889)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 141 (Virginia total: 349)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 714 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (Virginia total tests: 60,778)
> Population density: 199.1 people per square mile — 13th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/7/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/30/2020): 23 days
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6. Rhode Island
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +52.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 552.4 per 100,000 — 4th most (Rhode Island total: 5,841)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 363.0 per 100,000 — 6th most (Rhode Island total: 3,838)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 76 (Rhode Island total: 181)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 3,946 per 100,000 people — the most (Rhode Island total tests: 41,722)
> Population density: 684.3 people per square mile — 2nd highest
> First confirmed case: 3/1/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/28/2020): 27 days
5. Delaware
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +54.2%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 330.9 per 100,000 — 8th most (Delaware total: 3,200)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 214.5 per 100,000 — 9th most (Delaware total: 2,075)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 37 (Delaware total: 89)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 388.6 people per square mile — 6th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/11/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/24/2020): 13 days
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4. Ohio
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +67.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 120.8 per 100,000 — 21st most (Ohio total: 14,117)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 72.0 per 100,000 — 21st fewest (Ohio total: 8,414)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 221 (Ohio total: 610)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: N/A
> Population density: 260.8 people per square mile — 10th highest
> First confirmed case: 3/9/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order (3/23/2020): 14 days
3. Nebraska
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +70.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 94.0 per 100,000 — 19th fewest (Nebraska total: 1,813)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 55.3 per 100,000 — 13th fewest (Nebraska total: 1,066)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 18 (Nebraska total: 42)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 902 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (Nebraska total tests: 17,394)
> Population density: 24.9 people per square mile — 8th lowest
> First confirmed case: 2/17/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
2. North Dakota
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +72.8%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 89.3 per 100,000 — 17th fewest (North Dakota total: 679)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 51.7 per 100,000 — 8th fewest (North Dakota total: 393)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 5 (North Dakota total: 14)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 2,051 per 100,000 people — 7th most (North Dakota total tests: 15,589)
> Population density: 10.8 people per square mile — 4th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/11/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
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Source: tabor-roeder / Flickr
1. Iowa
> 7-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases through Apr. 23: +75.1%
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 23: 118.8 per 100,000 — 23rd most (Iowa total: 3,748)
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Apr. 16: 67.8 per 100,000 — 19th fewest (Iowa total: 2,141)
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending Apr. 23: 30 (Iowa total: 90)
> COVID-19 testing rate as of Apr. 23: 895 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (Iowa total tests: 28,244)
> Population density: 56.1 people per square mile — 15th lowest
> First confirmed case: 3/8/2020
> Days between 1st case and beginning of statewide stay-at-home order: No order issued as of April 8
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