Public health experts anticipate that the winter months will usher in a surge of new COVID-19 cases. A meaningful spike in the infection rate may have arrived sooner than predicted, however. With the first day of winter still about two months away, nearly every state is reporting an uptick in new cases of the virus every day.
After over a month with fewer than 50,000 new cases per day — the longest stretch since June — cases began rising again in mid-October, with about 56,000 new infections reported on Oct. 20. Last week, there was an average of about 17 new cases of the virus each day for every 100,000 Americans — up from about 14 new daily cases per 100,000 people just one week prior. In some states, the increase has been far more dramatic.
Using data from state and local health departments, 24/7 Wall St. calculated each state’s average of new daily COVID-19 cases for the week ending Oct. 20 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 has relatively unchanged, and where it is still increasing. In Texas, COVID-19 data is current as of Oct. 19.
The severity of the increase in new daily cases of the coronavirus varies by region. Six of the 10 hardest hit states are in the Midwest and the remaining four are in the West.
The two states that reported the largest increases in new daily cases of the virus per capita — North Dakota and South Dakota — also happen to be the states with the most cases overall on a per capita basis. Neither state issued a stay-at-home-order, like most others did in the early days of the pandemic, to help contain the virus’ spread. Here is a look at standing COVID restrictions — or lack there of — in each state.
Click here to see the states where the virus is getting worse
50. Kentucky
> 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. 20: 22.9 per 100,000 people — 21st most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 24.4 per 100,000 people — 13th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,004 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (total: 89,544)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (total: 1,342)
> Population: 4.5 million
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Source: Bicho_raro / iStock via Getty Images
49. Hawaii
> 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. 20: 6.2 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 7.0 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 997 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (total: 14,156)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 13 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (total: 189)
> Population: 1.4 million
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48. Louisiana
> 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. 20: 11.1 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.5 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,791 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (total: 176,681)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 120 per 100,000 people — 5th most (total: 5,572)
> Population: 4.7 million
47. 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. 20: 1.5 per 100,000 people — the fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 1.7 per 100,000 people — the fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 312 per 100,000 people — the fewest (total: 1,956)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 09 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (total: 58)
> Population: 626,299
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46. New York
> 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. 20: 7.1 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 7.2 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,489 per 100,000 people — 25th most (total: 486,480)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 131 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (total: 25,672)
> Population: 19.5 million
Source: halbergman / E+ via Getty Images
45. California
> 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. 20: 8.0 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 8.1 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,210 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest (total: 874,077)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 43 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest (total: 16,992)
> Population: 39.6 million
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Source: navymedicine / Flickr
44. Maine
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +0.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 2.2 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 2.2 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 447 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (total: 5,989)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 11 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (total: 146)
> Population: 1.3 million
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Source: icetsarina / Flickr
43. Oregon
> 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. 20: 8.1 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 8.0 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 958 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (total: 40,136)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 15 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (total: 633)
> Population: 4.2 million
Source: navymedicine / Flickr
42. New Hampshire
> 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. 20: 5.7 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 5.4 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 725 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (total: 9,828)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 35 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (total: 468)
> Population: 1.4 million
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Source: Sarah Silbiger / Getty Images News via Getty Images
41. Maryland
> 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. 20: 10.1 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 9.5 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,263 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest (total: 136,744)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 67 per 100,000 people — 15th most (total: 4,050)
> Population: 6.0 million
40. Delaware
> 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. 20: 13.9 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 13.1 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,412 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest (total: 23,325)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 69 per 100,000 people — 14th most (total: 668)
> Population: 967,171
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39. Georgia
> 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. 20: 12.1 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.4 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,255 per 100,000 people — 10th most (total: 342,438)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 73 per 100,000 people — 11th most (total: 7,674)
> Population: 10.5 million
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
38. 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. 20: 12.4 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.4 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,969 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (total: 167,754)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 41 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest (total: 3,485)
> Population: 8.5 million
Source: Go Nakamura / Getty Images News via Getty Images
37. Texas
> 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. 19: 14.8 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 13.8 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 19: 2,887 per 100,000 people — 18th most (total: 828,527)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 19: 59 per 100,000 people — 17th most (total: 17,022)
> Population: 28.7 million
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36. Massachusetts
> 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. 20: 9.2 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 8.1 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,062 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest (total: 142,295)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 138 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (total: 9,537)
> Population: 6.9 million
35. South Carolina
> 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. 20: 18.2 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 16.9 per 100,000 people — 24th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,255 per 100,000 people — 11th most (total: 165,493)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 73 per 100,000 people — 13th most (total: 3,696)
> Population: 5.1 million
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34. Pennsylvania
> 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. 20: 11.0 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 9.6 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,444 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (total: 184,872)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 67 per 100,000 people — 16th most (total: 8,533)
> Population: 12.8 million
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33. Tennessee
> 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. 20: 28.4 per 100,000 people — 13th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 26.8 per 100,000 people — 12th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,450 per 100,000 people — 7th most (total: 233,569)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 44 per 100,000 people — 25th most (total: 2,952)
> Population: 6.8 million
32. North Carolina
> 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. 20: 19.3 per 100,000 people — 25th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 17.8 per 100,000 people — 22nd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,396 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest (total: 248,750)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 38 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest (total: 3,992)
> Population: 10.4 million
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31. New Jersey
> 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. 20: 10.1 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 8.5 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,494 per 100,000 people — 24th most (total: 222,193)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 182 per 100,000 people — the most (total: 16,227)
> Population: 8.9 million
30. Oklahoma
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +1.8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 29.2 per 100,000 people — 12th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 27.4 per 100,000 people — 9th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,778 per 100,000 people — 19th most (total: 109,548)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (total: 1,191)
> Population: 3.9 million
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29. Alabama
> 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. 20: 20.8 per 100,000 people — 22nd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 18.8 per 100,000 people — 21st most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,571 per 100,000 people — 5th most (total: 174,528)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 57 per 100,000 people — 18th most (total: 2,805)
> Population: 4.9 million
28. 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. 20: 11.1 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 9.0 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,248 per 100,000 people — 12th most (total: 232,937)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 81 per 100,000 people — 8th most (total: 5,837)
> Population: 7.2 million
27. Kansas
> 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. 20: 25.1 per 100,000 people — 18th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 23.0 per 100,000 people — 16th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,506 per 100,000 people — 23rd most (total: 72,968)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (total: 872)
> Population: 2.9 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: +2.1 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 8.9 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 6.7 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,316 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (total: 99,150)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (total: 2,282)
> Population: 7.5 million
25. Florida
> 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. 20: 13.8 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.4 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,570 per 100,000 people — 6th most (total: 760,389)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 77 per 100,000 people — 9th most (total: 16,308)
> Population: 21.3 million
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24. Utah
> 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. 20: 39.0 per 100,000 people — 6th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 36.5 per 100,000 people — 5th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,057 per 100,000 people — 15th most (total: 96,643)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 17 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (total: 551)
> Population: 3.2 million
23. Nevada
> 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. 20: 19.8 per 100,000 people — 24th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 17.1 per 100,000 people — 23rd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,015 per 100,000 people — 17th most (total: 91,499)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 57 per 100,000 people — 20th most (total: 1,727)
> Population: 3.0 million
22. Connecticut
> 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. 20: 10.6 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 7.9 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,804 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (total: 64,455)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 128 per 100,000 people — 4th most (total: 4,559)
> Population: 3.6 million
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21. Arkansas
> 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. 20: 29.7 per 100,000 people — 11th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 26.9 per 100,000 people — 11th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,333 per 100,000 people — 9th most (total: 100,441)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 57 per 100,000 people — 19th most (total: 1,728)
> Population: 3.0 million
Source: usdagov / Flickr
20. Alaska
> 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. 20: 26.3 per 100,000 people — 14th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 23.4 per 100,000 people — 14th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,686 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (total: 12,432)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 09 per 100,000 people — the fewest (total: 67)
> Population: 737,438
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19. West Virginia
> 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. 20: 14.8 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.4 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,136 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (total: 20,519)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 23 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (total: 408)
> Population: 1.8 million
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18. Ohio
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 15.3 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.7 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,588 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (total: 185,639)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 43 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest (total: 5,083)
> Population: 11.7 million
17. Mississippi
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 25.0 per 100,000 people — 19th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 21.0 per 100,000 people — 17th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,727 per 100,000 people — 4th most (total: 111,322)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 107 per 100,000 people — 7th most (total: 3,202)
> Population: 3.0 million
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16. Michigan
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 15.6 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 11.5 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,661 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (total: 165,994)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 74 per 100,000 people — 10th most (total: 7,383)
> Population: 10.0 million
15. Iowa
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 34.1 per 100,000 people — 9th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 29.9 per 100,000 people — 8th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,431 per 100,000 people — 8th most (total: 108,297)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 49 per 100,000 people — 23rd most (total: 1,548)
> Population: 3.2 million
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14. Minnesota
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 25.3 per 100,000 people — 17th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 20.8 per 100,000 people — 18th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,232 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest (total: 125,215)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 40 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest (total: 2,246)
> Population: 5.6 million
13. Colorado
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.0 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 17.3 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 12.3 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,538 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (total: 87,582)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 38 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest (total: 2,182)
> Population: 5.7 million
12. Rhode Island
> 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. 20: 20.7 per 100,000 people — 23rd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 15.5 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,710 per 100,000 people — 21st most (total: 28,649)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 110 per 100,000 people — 6th most (total: 1,164)
> Population: 1.1 million
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11. Indiana
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5.6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 25.9 per 100,000 people — 16th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 20.3 per 100,000 people — 19th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,251 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest (total: 150,664)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 56 per 100,000 people — 21st most (total: 3,775)
> Population: 6.7 million
10. Idaho
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 38.8 per 100,000 people — 7th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 32.5 per 100,000 people — 6th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,116 per 100,000 people — 13th most (total: 54,663)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 30 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (total: 535)
> Population: 1.8 million
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9. Montana
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 56.8 per 100,000 people — 3rd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 50.1 per 100,000 people — 3rd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,268 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest (total: 24,093)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 24 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (total: 252)
> Population: 1.1 million
8. Wisconsin
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 49.5 per 100,000 people — 4th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 42.6 per 100,000 people — 4th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,070 per 100,000 people — 14th most (total: 178,482)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 28 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (total: 1,633)
> Population: 5.8 million
7. Illinois
> 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. 20: 26.1 per 100,000 people — 15th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 18.8 per 100,000 people — 20th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,754 per 100,000 people — 20th most (total: 350,875)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 73 per 100,000 people — 12th most (total: 9,277)
> Population: 12.7 million
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6. Wyoming
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7.4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 34.4 per 100,000 people — 8th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 27.0 per 100,000 people — 10th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,649 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (total: 9,526)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 11 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (total: 61)
> Population: 577,737
5. New Mexico
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +8.3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 24.5 per 100,000 people — 20th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 16.3 per 100,000 people — 25th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 1,809 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (total: 37,896)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 45 per 100,000 people — 24th most (total: 942)
> Population: 2.1 million
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4. Missouri
> 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. 20: 31.8 per 100,000 people — 10th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 23.0 per 100,000 people — 15th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 2,606 per 100,000 people — 22nd most (total: 159,625)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 43 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest (total: 2,615)
> Population: 6.1 million
3. Nebraska
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +9.2 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 40.1 per 100,000 people — 5th most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 30.9 per 100,000 people — 7th most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,049 per 100,000 people — 16th most (total: 58,817)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 29 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (total: 554)
> Population: 1.9 million
Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images
2. South Dakota
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +15.9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 77.0 per 100,000 people — 2nd most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 61.0 per 100,000 people — 2nd most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 3,835 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (total: 33,836)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 37 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest (total: 323)
> Population: 882,235
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1. North Dakota
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +21.5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 20: 87.3 per 100,000 people — the most
> Avg. new daily cases for week ending Oct. 13: 65.8 per 100,000 people — the most
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Oct. 20: 4,429 per 100,000 people — the most (total: 33,666)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Oct. 20: 54 per 100,000 people — 22nd most (total: 412)
> Population: 760,077
Methodology:
To identify the American cities losing the most jobs, 24/7 Wall St. ranked U.S. metropolitan statistical areas by the percent decline in total employment over the five years from August 2015 to August 2020.
Employment (the number of people employed), the total size of the labor force (those working and looking for work), and the number of unemployed workers are all from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate is also from the BLS and is as of August 2020. Employment by industry at the super sector level is also from the BLS, and five-year changes were calculated from August 2015 to August 2020. Population figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and are through 2019. Median household income is for 2019 and is also from the ACS.
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