Special Report

States Where the Virus Spread Is Slowing (and Where It’s Still Getting Worse)

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As the U.S. continues to contend with the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of daily new cases has continued to fluctuate. After the initial spike in cases in March and April, the number of daily new cases declined, only to surge again in the summer. Though cases have since leveled off nationwide, hotspots have continued to emerge across the country even as many states and areas have seemed to gain control over the outbreak.

After several weeks of increases, average daily new cases reported across the U.S. decreased in the week ending Oct. 4 compared to the previous week. Despite this decline, 37 states reported a week-over-week increase in daily average cases.

Using data from state and local health departments, 24/7 Wall St. calculated for each states the average of new daily confirmed COVID-19 cases for the week ending Oct. 4 and compared it to the average from the previous week to determine the states where the spread of the coronavirus is declining the fastest, where it is remaining relatively unchanged, and where it is still increasing. Data was current as of Oct. 4 for every state except for Oklahoma, for which data was current as of Oct. 3.

Health authorities reported a daily average of 12.8 new cases per 100,000 American residents for the week ending Oct. 4, down from 13.1 per 100,000 the week before. Despite the national decline, 37 states reported a higher average of daily new cases this most recent week compared to the one before. This is in part because the three most populous states — California, Texas, and Florida — recorded declines in their average daily cases per capita, while the largest spikes were recorded in states with fewer than 2 million people.

Cases nationwide may be declining at least in part because states reacted to case increases in September by imposing restrictions on gatherings, bars and restaurants, and travel from other states. Nearly half of U.S. states have travel restrictions or recommendations for travelers, such as mandatory quarantines, health questionnaires, or testing requirements. This is a state by state guide for traveling during the pandemic.

As the pandemic continues into the fall, states must also decide how best to safely reopen schools, whether that means having all classes online, in-person, or a hybrid model mixing the two. Many governors have deferred to district superintendents to decide how teaching should proceed. This is how schools are managing coronavirus in every state.

Click here to see the states where the virus spread is slowing and where it is still getting worse.

50. Texas
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -7.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 15.2 per 100,000 people — 24th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 22.2 per 100,000 people — 9th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,668 per 100,000 people — 14th most (total: 765,894)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 56 per 100,000 people — 18th most (total: 16,025)
> Population: 28.7 million

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49. Missouri
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -4.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 19.3 per 100,000 people — 15th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 23.9 per 100,000 people — 8th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,034 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest (total: 124,620)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 34 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest (total: 2,064)
> Population: 6.1 million

48. Wisconsin
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -3.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 40.4 per 100,000 people — 3rd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 43.8 per 100,000 people — 2nd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,282 per 100,000 people — 23rd most (total: 132,663)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 24 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (total: 1,377)
> Population: 5.8 million

47. South Carolina
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -3.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 17.5 per 100,000 people — 18th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 20.6 per 100,000 people — 13th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,981 per 100,000 people — 8th most (total: 151,582)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 68 per 100,000 people — 14th most (total: 3,453)
> Population: 5.1 million

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46. Georgia
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -2.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 11.1 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 13.8 per 100,000 people — 23rd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,070 per 100,000 people — 7th most (total: 322,925)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 68 per 100,000 people — 13th most (total: 7,162)
> Population: 10.5 million

45. Oklahoma
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -2.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 26.1 per 100,000 people — 9th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 28.2 per 100,000 people — 5th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,316 per 100,000 people — 22nd most (total: 91,317)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: . per 100,000 people — the most (total: .)
> Population: 3.9 million

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44. Arizona
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -2.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 6.7 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 8.7 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,078 per 100,000 people — 6th most (total: 220,754)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 80 per 100,000 people — 9th most (total: 5,706)
> Population: 7.2 million

43. Florida
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -1.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 10.8 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 12.4 per 100,000 people — 24th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,364 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (total: 716,459)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 70 per 100,000 people — 11th most (total: 14,845)
> Population: 21.3 million

Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images

42. Virginia
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -1.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 9.2 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 10.2 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,783 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest (total: 151,870)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 38 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest (total: 3,273)
> Population: 8.5 million

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41. Louisiana
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -0.8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 10.6 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 11.4 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,611 per 100,000 people — the most (total: 168,294)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 116 per 100,000 people — 6th most (total: 5,387)
> Population: 4.7 million

Source: halbergman / E+ via Getty Images

40. California
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -0.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 8.2 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 8.7 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,082 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest (total: 823,729)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 41 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest (total: 16,120)
> Population: 39.6 million

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39. Rhode Island
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -0.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 9.4 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 9.5 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,372 per 100,000 people — 19th most (total: 25,076)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 106 per 100,000 people — 7th most (total: 1,118)
> Population: 1.1 million

38. Maine
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: -0.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 2.3 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 2.4 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 412 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (total: 5,519)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 11 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (total: 142)
> Population: 1.3 million

37. West Virginia
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 10.5 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 10.4 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 921 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (total: 16,628)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 20 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (total: 358)
> Population: 1.8 million

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36. Vermont
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 0.8 per 100,000 people — the fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 0.5 per 100,000 people — the fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 285 per 100,000 people — the fewest (total: 1,785)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 09 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (total: 58)
> Population: 626,299

35. Arkansas
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 27.3 per 100,000 people — 8th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 27.0 per 100,000 people — 7th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,887 per 100,000 people — 11th most (total: 87,013)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 47 per 100,000 people — 22nd most (total: 1,425)
> Population: 3.0 million

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34. Mississippi
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 17.0 per 100,000 people — 20th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 16.7 per 100,000 people — 17th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,365 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (total: 100,488)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 101 per 100,000 people — 8th most (total: 3,013)
> Population: 3.0 million

Source: Bicho_raro / iStock via Getty Images

33. Hawaii
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 7.3 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 7.0 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 896 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (total: 12,734)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 11 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (total: 153)
> Population: 1.4 million

Source: Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images News via Getty Images

32. Maryland
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 8.6 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 8.1 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,107 per 100,000 people — 25th most (total: 127,290)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 66 per 100,000 people — 16th most (total: 3,958)
> Population: 6.0 million

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Source: icetsarina / Flickr

31. Oregon
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 6.7 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 6.1 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 830 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (total: 34,770)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 14 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (total: 572)
> Population: 4.2 million

30. Illinois
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 15.5 per 100,000 people — 22nd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 14.9 per 100,000 people — 21st most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,367 per 100,000 people — 20th most (total: 301,541)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 69 per 100,000 people — 12th most (total: 8,791)
> Population: 12.7 million

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29. Colorado
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 10.4 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 9.4 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,283 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (total: 73,076)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 36 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest (total: 2,068)
> Population: 5.7 million

28. Pennsylvania
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 7.3 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 6.2 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,277 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (total: 163,535)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 64 per 100,000 people — 17th most (total: 8,216)
> Population: 12.8 million

Source: mrolands / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

27. Iowa
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 28.8 per 100,000 people — 6th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 27.7 per 100,000 people — 6th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,932 per 100,000 people — 10th most (total: 92,545)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 44 per 100,000 people — 23rd most (total: 1,381)
> Population: 3.2 million

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Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

26. Washington
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 7.2 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 6.0 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,193 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (total: 89,874)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 28 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (total: 2,142)
> Population: 7.5 million

25. Michigan
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 9.5 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 8.2 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,413 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (total: 141,271)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 71 per 100,000 people — 10th most (total: 7,124)
> Population: 10.0 million

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24. New Hampshire
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 3.7 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 2.4 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 637 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (total: 8,645)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 33 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (total: 443)
> Population: 1.4 million

23. Connecticut
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 5.7 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 4.4 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,632 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (total: 58,297)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 126 per 100,000 people — 5th most (total: 4,513)
> Population: 3.6 million

22. Tennessee
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 20.2 per 100,000 people — 13th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 18.9 per 100,000 people — 15th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,948 per 100,000 people — 9th most (total: 199,595)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 38 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest (total: 2,560)
> Population: 6.8 million

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21. New York
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 5.4 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 4.1 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,377 per 100,000 people — 18th most (total: 464,582)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 131 per 100,000 people — 4th most (total: 25,519)
> Population: 19.5 million

20. Ohio
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 9.2 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 7.8 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,359 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (total: 158,907)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 42 per 100,000 people — 25th most (total: 4,925)
> Population: 11.7 million

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19. Kansas
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 22.4 per 100,000 people — 11th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 20.9 per 100,000 people — 12th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,099 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest (total: 61,111)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 24 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (total: 698)
> Population: 2.9 million

18. Minnesota
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 17.9 per 100,000 people — 16th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 16.2 per 100,000 people — 18th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,850 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest (total: 103,826)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 37 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest (total: 2,080)
> Population: 5.6 million

17. New Jersey
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 7.0 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 5.3 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,337 per 100,000 people — 21st most (total: 208,202)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 181 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (total: 16,136)
> Population: 8.9 million

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16. Massachusetts
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 7.5 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 5.6 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,919 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest (total: 132,440)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 135 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (total: 9,295)
> Population: 6.9 million

15. Kentucky
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +2.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 17.6 per 100,000 people — 17th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 15.4 per 100,000 people — 20th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,611 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (total: 72,001)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 27 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (total: 1,205)
> Population: 4.5 million

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14. Utah
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +2.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 31.3 per 100,000 people — 4th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 29.0 per 100,000 people — 4th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,455 per 100,000 people — 17th most (total: 77,618)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 15 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (total: 478)
> Population: 3.2 million

13. North Carolina
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +2.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 17.2 per 100,000 people — 19th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 14.8 per 100,000 people — 22nd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,095 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest (total: 217,496)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 35 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest (total: 3,634)
> Population: 10.4 million

12. Alabama
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +2.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 21.5 per 100,000 people — 12th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 19.0 per 100,000 people — 14th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,256 per 100,000 people — 4th most (total: 159,169)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 52 per 100,000 people — 20th most (total: 2,558)
> Population: 4.9 million

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11. Indiana
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +2.8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 14.9 per 100,000 people — 25th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 12.0 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,870 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest (total: 125,146)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 52 per 100,000 people — 21st most (total: 3,447)
> Population: 6.7 million

10. Delaware
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +2.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 12.6 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 9.8 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,196 per 100,000 people — 24th most (total: 21,243)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 67 per 100,000 people — 15th most (total: 645)
> Population: 967,171

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9. New Mexico
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 10.0 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 7.1 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,454 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (total: 30,477)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 43 per 100,000 people — 24th most (total: 892)
> Population: 2.1 million

8. Nevada
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 15.5 per 100,000 people — 23rd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 12.2 per 100,000 people — 25th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,706 per 100,000 people — 13th most (total: 82,100)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 53 per 100,000 people — 19th most (total: 1,623)
> Population: 3.0 million

7. North Dakota
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 52.8 per 100,000 people — the most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 49.5 per 100,000 people — the most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 3,098 per 100,000 people — 5th most (total: 23,550)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 36 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest (total: 274)
> Population: 760,077

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6. Wyoming
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 20.0 per 100,000 people — 14th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 15.9 per 100,000 people — 19th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,126 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (total: 6,504)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 09 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (total: 53)
> Population: 577,737

Source: usdagov / Flickr

5. Alaska
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 16.5 per 100,000 people — 21st most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 11.4 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,271 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (total: 9,376)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 08 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (total: 58)
> Population: 737,438

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4. Idaho
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 27.3 per 100,000 people — 7th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 21.8 per 100,000 people — 10th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,506 per 100,000 people — 15th most (total: 43,964)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 02 per 100,000 people — the fewest (total: 40)
> Population: 1.8 million

3. Nebraska
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 25.2 per 100,000 people — 10th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 18.9 per 100,000 people — 16th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,457 per 100,000 people — 16th most (total: 47,403)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 26 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (total: 497)
> Population: 1.9 million

Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images

2. South Dakota
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 46.7 per 100,000 people — 2nd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 39.4 per 100,000 people — 3rd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 2,768 per 100,000 people — 12th most (total: 24,418)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 28 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (total: 248)
> Population: 882,235

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1. Montana
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +8.8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 4: 30.1 per 100,000 people — 5th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Sept. 27: 21.3 per 100,000 people — 11th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 4: 1,378 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (total: 14,635)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 4: 18 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (total: 187)
> Population: 1.1 million

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