Special Report

States With the Most Cases of COVID-19

Samuel Stebbins

Published: October 24, 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 44,862,600 reported cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 13,712 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 5,571 to as high as 18,812, 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 lowest number of infections per capita tend to be concentrated in the Northeast, while 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. 21, 2021.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

51. Vermont
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 5,571 per 100,000 people (34,891 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 53 per 100,000 people (332 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. 21: 5,632 per 100,000 people (80,005 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 61 per 100,000 people (871 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. 21: 7,416 per 100,000 people (99,252 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 83 per 100,000 people (1,109 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. 21: 8,432 per 100,000 people (353,368 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 101 per 100,000 people (4,226 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: Davel5957 / Getty Images

47. Maryland
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 9,144 per 100,000 people (552,524 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 178 per 100,000 people (10,757 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: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images

46. Washington D.C.
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 9,254 per 100,000 people (63,345 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 173 per 100,000 people (1,185 total deaths)
> Population: 702,455

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

Source: aiisha5 / iStock

45. Washington
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 9,321 per 100,000 people (702,425 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 110 per 100,000 people (8,322 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

44. New Hampshire
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 9,587 per 100,000 people (130,040 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 113 per 100,000 people (1,532 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

43. Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 10,699 per 100,000 people (911,321 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 159 per 100,000 people (13,585 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. 21: 11,168 per 100,000 people (398,979 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 244 per 100,000 people (8,721 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. 21: 11,847 per 100,000 people (1,517,231 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 239 per 100,000 people (30,587 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

40. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 12,146 per 100,000 people (838,347 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 273 per 100,000 people (18,864 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

39. California
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 12,156 per 100,000 people (4,808,543 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 178 per 100,000 people (70,437 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: pawel.gaul / Getty Images

38. Michigan
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 12,344 per 100,000 people (1,233,905 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 231 per 100,000 people (23,065 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: f11photo / Getty Images

37. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 12,503 per 100,000 people (712,125 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 140 per 100,000 people (7,949 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. 21: 12,701 per 100,000 people (266,148 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 236 per 100,000 people (4,952 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. 21: 12,859 per 100,000 people (1,503,102 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 202 per 100,000 people (23,616 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. 21: 12,867 per 100,000 people (2,514,533 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 286 per 100,000 people (55,911 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. 21: 13,133 per 100,000 people (1,673,346 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 222 per 100,000 people (28,292 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

32. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 13,283 per 100,000 people (1,183,289 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 312 per 100,000 people (27,768 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: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

31. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 13,614 per 100,000 people (763,915 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 153 per 100,000 people (8,581 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: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

30. Missouri
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 13,773 per 100,000 people (843,791 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 195 per 100,000 people (11,935 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. 21: 14,014 per 100,000 people (1,455,188 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 169 per 100,000 people (17,575 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

28. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,419 per 100,000 people (278,174 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 152 per 100,000 people (2,924 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 / Getty Images

27. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,502 per 100,000 people (261,890 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 230 per 100,000 people (4,145 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: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

26. Texas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,537 per 100,000 people (4,172,288 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 237 per 100,000 people (68,043 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: mdgmorris / Getty Images

25. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,543 per 100,000 people (140,651 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 211 per 100,000 people (2,037 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: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

24. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,590 per 100,000 people (424,802 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 212 per 100,000 people (6,170 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: f11photo / Getty Images

23. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,613 per 100,000 people (443,420 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 246 per 100,000 people (7,466 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

22. Wisconsin
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,793 per 100,000 people (859,993 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 158 per 100,000 people (9,181 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: Davel5957 / Getty Images

21. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 14,969 per 100,000 people (1,001,697 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 245 per 100,000 people (16,370 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: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

20. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 15,095 per 100,000 people (476,426 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 217 per 100,000 people (6,848 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

19. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 15,407 per 100,000 people (1,620,694 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 267 per 100,000 people (28,076 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: peeterv / Getty Images

18. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 15,746 per 100,000 people (167,268 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 208 per 100,000 people (2,206 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: Dreamframer / Getty Images

17. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 15,863 per 100,000 people (1,137,636 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 288 per 100,000 people (20,674 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: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

16. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 15,957 per 100,000 people (279,921 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 189 per 100,000 people (3,316 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

15. Oklahoma
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,149 per 100,000 people (636,760 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 267 per 100,000 people (10,535 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

14. Louisiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,170 per 100,000 people (753,532 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 309 per 100,000 people (14,388 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

13. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,311 per 100,000 people (728,860 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 211 per 100,000 people (9,425 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: Kruck20 / Getty Images

12. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,694 per 100,000 people (815,989 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 313 per 100,000 people (15,311 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

11. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,736 per 100,000 people (499,838 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 333 per 100,000 people (9,957 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

10. Rhode Island
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,767 per 100,000 people (177,280 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 271 per 100,000 people (2,867 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

9. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,848 per 100,000 people (507,759 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 273 per 100,000 people (8,221 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: Bill_Dally / iStock

8. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 16,878 per 100,000 people (533,526 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 98 per 100,000 people (3,095 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: volvob12b / Flickr

7. Alaska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 17,011 per 100,000 people (125,445 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 89 per 100,000 people (659 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

6. Florida
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 17,047 per 100,000 people (3,630,835 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 273 per 100,000 people (58,143 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: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

5. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 17,061 per 100,000 people (98,567 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 197 per 100,000 people (1,136 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: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

4. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 17,126 per 100,000 people (151,088 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 250 per 100,000 people (2,203 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

3. South Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 17,471 per 100,000 people (888,273 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 263 per 100,000 people (13,366 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

2. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 18,720 per 100,000 people (1,267,363 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 236 per 100,000 people (15,973 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).

Source: csfotoimages / Getty Images

1. North Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Oct. 21: 18,812 per 100,000 people (142,985 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Oct. 21: 223 per 100,000 people (1,698 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).

Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.