Special Report

States With the Most Cases of COVID-19

Samuel Stebbins

Published: October 10, 2021 5:45 am

Following months of a delta variant surge, new daily cases of COVID-19 are falling once again in much of the United States.

Since the first known case was identified in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2020, there have been a total of 43,673,600 reported cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 13,349 per 100,000 people. Of course, infections are not evenly spread across the country, and some states have far higher infections rates per capita than others. The number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people ranges from as low as 5,112 to as high as 18,334, depending on the state.

Though the first case of the novel coronavirus in the United States was on the West Coast, the early epicenter of the outbreak was on the other side of the country, in New York City. In the months since, the parts of the country hit hardest by the virus shifted to the Southeast, the Midwest, and California.

Currently, the states with the highest population-adjusted infection rates are most likely to be located in the South.

The severity of a COVID-19 outbreak across a given state is subject to a wide range of factors. Still, states that had a hands-off approach in the early days of the pandemic are more likely to be worse off today than those that adopted strict measures to control the spread. Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming were the only states that did not issue a statewide stay-at-home order in March or early April — and of those states, all eight currently have a higher infection rate than the U.S. as a whole.

All COVID-19 data used in this story are current as of Oct. 7, 2021.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

51. Vermont
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 5,112 per 100,000 people (32,014 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 49 per 100,000 people (309 total deaths)
> Population: 626,299

These are all the counties in Vermont where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: maximkabb / iStock

50. Hawaii
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 5,488 per 100,000 people (77,963 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 57 per 100,000 people (806 total deaths)
> Population: 1,420,491

These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

49. Maine
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 6,923 per 100,000 people (92,664 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 78 per 100,000 people (1,045 total deaths)
> Population: 1,338,404

These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: 4nadia / Getty Images

48. Oregon
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 8,032 per 100,000 people (336,598 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 92 per 100,000 people (3,867 total deaths)
> Population: 4,190,713

These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: aiisha5 / iStock

47. Washington
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 8,894 per 100,000 people (670,207 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 104 per 100,000 people (7,860 total deaths)
> Population: 7,535,591

These are all the counties in Washington where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

46. Maryland
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 8,921 per 100,000 people (539,053 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 174 per 100,000 people (10,534 total deaths)
> Population: 6,042,718

These are all the counties in Maryland where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

45. New Hampshire
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 9,027 per 100,000 people (122,450 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 110 per 100,000 people (1,490 total deaths)
> Population: 1,356,458

These are all the counties in New Hampshire where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images

44. Washington D.C.
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 9,038 per 100,000 people (61,863 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 172 per 100,000 people (1,179 total deaths)
> Population: 702,455

Click here to see all current COVID-19 data for Washington D.C.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

43. Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 10,360 per 100,000 people (882,437 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 153 per 100,000 people (12,999 total deaths)
> Population: 8,517,685

These are all the counties in Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

42. Connecticut
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 10,988 per 100,000 people (392,574 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 243 per 100,000 people (8,666 total deaths)
> Population: 3,572,665

These are all the counties in Connecticut where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

41. Pennsylvania
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 11,348 per 100,000 people (1,453,387 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 231 per 100,000 people (29,611 total deaths)
> Population: 12,807,060

These are all the counties in Pennsylvania where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: pawel.gaul / Getty Images

40. Michigan
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 11,741 per 100,000 people (1,173,590 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 225 per 100,000 people (22,538 total deaths)
> Population: 9,995,915

These are all the counties in Michigan where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

39. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 11,856 per 100,000 people (818,290 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 271 per 100,000 people (18,680 total deaths)
> Population: 6,902,149

These are all the counties in Massachusetts where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: choness / Getty Images

38. California
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 11,954 per 100,000 people (4,728,665 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 174 per 100,000 people (69,027 total deaths)
> Population: 39,557,045

These are all the counties in California where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

37. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 11,956 per 100,000 people (680,935 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 134 per 100,000 people (7,643 total deaths)
> Population: 5,695,564

These are all the counties in Colorado where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: ferrantraite / Getty Images

36. New Mexico
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 12,223 per 100,000 people (256,115 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 231 per 100,000 people (4,830 total deaths)
> Population: 2,095,428

These are all the counties in New Mexico where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

35. Ohio
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 12,314 per 100,000 people (1,439,490 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 192 per 100,000 people (22,490 total deaths)
> Population: 11,689,442

These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

34. New York
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 12,536 per 100,000 people (2,449,749 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 284 per 100,000 people (55,407 total deaths)
> Population: 19,542,209

These are all the counties in New York where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

33. Illinois
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 12,880 per 100,000 people (1,641,061 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 218 per 100,000 people (27,811 total deaths)
> Population: 12,741,080

These are all the counties in Illinois where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

32. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 12,929 per 100,000 people (725,451 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 148 per 100,000 people (8,316 total deaths)
> Population: 5,611,179

These are all the counties in Minnesota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

31. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,050 per 100,000 people (1,162,526 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 309 per 100,000 people (27,525 total deaths)
> Population: 8,908,520

These are all the counties in New Jersey where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

30. Missouri
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,519 per 100,000 people (828,231 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 191 per 100,000 people (11,676 total deaths)
> Population: 6,126,452

These are all the counties in Missouri where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

29. North Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,614 per 100,000 people (1,413,605 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 162 per 100,000 people (16,812 total deaths)
> Population: 10,383,620

These are all the counties in North Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

28. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,645 per 100,000 people (246,408 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 209 per 100,000 people (3,774 total deaths)
> Population: 1,805,832

These are all the counties in West Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

27. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,984 per 100,000 people (424,326 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 238 per 100,000 people (7,221 total deaths)
> Population: 3,034,392

These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: mdgmorris / Getty Images

26. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,986 per 100,000 people (135,267 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 204 per 100,000 people (1,975 total deaths)
> Population: 967,171

These are all the counties in Delaware where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

25. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 13,988 per 100,000 people (269,862 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 147 per 100,000 people (2,841 total deaths)
> Population: 1,929,268

These are all the counties in Nebraska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

24. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 14,189 per 100,000 people (413,119 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 209 per 100,000 people (6,071 total deaths)
> Population: 2,911,510

These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

23. Wisconsin
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 14,200 per 100,000 people (825,538 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 154 per 100,000 people (8,960 total deaths)
> Population: 5,813,568

These are all the counties in Wisconsin where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

22. Texas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 14,222 per 100,000 people (4,081,849 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 227 per 100,000 people (65,062 total deaths)
> Population: 28,701,845

These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images

21. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 14,557 per 100,000 people (974,169 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 237 per 100,000 people (15,844 total deaths)
> Population: 6,691,878

These are all the counties in Indiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: peeterv / Getty Images

20. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 14,566 per 100,000 people (154,739 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 193 per 100,000 people (2,048 total deaths)
> Population: 1,062,305

These are all the counties in Montana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

19. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 14,618 per 100,000 people (461,352 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 211 per 100,000 people (6,651 total deaths)
> Population: 3,156,145

These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

18. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,009 per 100,000 people (263,294 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 171 per 100,000 people (2,993 total deaths)
> Population: 1,754,208

These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

17. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,141 per 100,000 people (1,592,733 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 253 per 100,000 people (26,625 total deaths)
> Population: 10,519,475

These are all the counties in Georgia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Dreamframer / Getty Images

16. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,433 per 100,000 people (1,106,789 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 282 per 100,000 people (20,211 total deaths)
> Population: 7,171,646

These are all the counties in Arizona where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: volvob12b / Flickr

15. Alaska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,440 per 100,000 people (113,857 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 76 per 100,000 people (561 total deaths)
> Population: 737,438

These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

14. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,732 per 100,000 people (702,951 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 200 per 100,000 people (8,921 total deaths)
> Population: 4,468,402

These are all the counties in Kentucky where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

13. Oklahoma
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,745 per 100,000 people (620,834 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 234 per 100,000 people (9,226 total deaths)
> Population: 3,943,079

These are all the counties in Oklahoma where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: f11photo / Getty Images

12. Louisiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 15,980 per 100,000 people (744,651 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 302 per 100,000 people (14,068 total deaths)
> Population: 4,659,978

These are all the parishes in Louisiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

11. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,014 per 100,000 people (92,517 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 180 per 100,000 people (1,041 total deaths)
> Population: 577,737

These are all the counties in Wyoming where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Bill_Dally / iStock

10. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,285 per 100,000 people (514,773 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 94 per 100,000 people (2,962 total deaths)
> Population: 3,161,105

These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

9. Rhode Island
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,419 per 100,000 people (173,603 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 269 per 100,000 people (2,845 total deaths)
> Population: 1,057,315

These are all the counties in Rhode Island where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Kruck20 / Getty Images

8. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,454 per 100,000 people (804,249 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 299 per 100,000 people (14,612 total deaths)
> Population: 4,887,871

These are all the counties in Alabama where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

7. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,493 per 100,000 people (492,558 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 327 per 100,000 people (9,768 total deaths)
> Population: 2,986,530

These are all the counties in Mississippi where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

6. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,557 per 100,000 people (499,004 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 258 per 100,000 people (7,775 total deaths)
> Population: 3,013,825

These are all the counties in Arkansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

5. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,616 per 100,000 people (146,594 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 245 per 100,000 people (2,161 total deaths)
> Population: 882,235

These are all the counties in South Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

4. Florida
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 16,875 per 100,000 people (3,594,182 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 261 per 100,000 people (55,625 total deaths)
> Population: 21,299,325

These are all the counties in Florida where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

3. South Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 17,084 per 100,000 people (868,560 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 251 per 100,000 people (12,778 total deaths)
> Population: 5,084,127

These are all the counties in South Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: csfotoimages / Getty Images

2. North Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 17,857 per 100,000 people (135,728 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 214 per 100,000 people (1,629 total deaths)
> Population: 760,077

These are all the counties in North Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

1. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 7: 18,334 per 100,000 people (1,241,204 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 7: 228 per 100,000 people (15,404 total deaths)
> Population: 6,770,010

These are all the counties in Tennessee where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.