Special Report

States With the Most Cases of COVID-19

Samuel Stebbins

Published: December 12, 2021 4:45 am

Despite the ongoing vaccination effort, new daily cases of COVID-19 are on the rise 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 48,982,600 reported cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 14,972 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 6,013 to as high as 21,758, depending on the state.

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 Dec. 8, 2021.

Source: maximkabb / iStock

51. Hawaii
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 6,013 per 100,000 people (85,413 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 72 per 100,000 people (1,022 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

50. Vermont
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 7,848 per 100,000 people (49,150 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 63 per 100,000 people (397 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

49. Maine
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 9,272 per 100,000 people (124,098 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 101 per 100,000 people (1,348 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 Dec. 8: 9,461 per 100,000 people (396,501 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 126 per 100,000 people (5,268 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 Dec. 8: 9,808 per 100,000 people (592,679 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 186 per 100,000 people (11,255 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 Dec. 8: 9,934 per 100,000 people (67,998 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 175 per 100,000 people (1,197 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 Dec. 8: 10,406 per 100,000 people (784,129 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 125 per 100,000 people (9,436 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

44. Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 11,568 per 100,000 people (985,297 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 174 per 100,000 people (14,798 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

43. Connecticut
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 12,057 per 100,000 people (430,756 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 250 per 100,000 people (8,925 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

42. New Hampshire
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 12,475 per 100,000 people (169,219 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 129 per 100,000 people (1,744 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: choness / Getty Images

41. California
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 12,911 per 100,000 people (5,107,333 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 188 per 100,000 people (74,209 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

40. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 13,727 per 100,000 people (947,463 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 283 per 100,000 people (19,516 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

39. Pennsylvania
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 13,923 per 100,000 people (1,783,118 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 265 per 100,000 people (33,962 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: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

38. New York
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 14,280 per 100,000 people (2,790,593 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 293 per 100,000 people (57,354 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

37. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 14,320 per 100,000 people (1,275,717 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 320 per 100,000 people (28,465 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

36. Illinois
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 14,553 per 100,000 people (1,854,186 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 232 per 100,000 people (29,619 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: f11photo / Getty Images

35. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 14,816 per 100,000 people (843,851 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 165 per 100,000 people (9,380 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

34. Ohio
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 14,850 per 100,000 people (1,735,925 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 230 per 100,000 people (26,851 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

33. North Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 14,957 per 100,000 people (1,553,112 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 182 per 100,000 people (18,860 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: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

32. Missouri
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 15,085 per 100,000 people (924,182 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 252 per 100,000 people (15,462 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: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

31. Texas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 15,088 per 100,000 people (4,330,392 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 254 per 100,000 people (72,989 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: pawel.gaul / Getty Images

30. Michigan
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 15,358 per 100,000 people (1,535,147 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 262 per 100,000 people (26,239 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: ferrantraite / Getty Images

29. New Mexico
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 15,477 per 100,000 people (324,311 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 259 per 100,000 people (5,419 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: f11photo / Getty Images

28. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 15,646 per 100,000 people (474,754 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 267 per 100,000 people (8,110 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

27. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 15,892 per 100,000 people (1,671,787 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 292 per 100,000 people (30,691 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: mdgmorris / Getty Images

26. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,221 per 100,000 people (156,887 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 227 per 100,000 people (2,194 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

25. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,410 per 100,000 people (477,789 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 232 per 100,000 people (6,743 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

24. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,454 per 100,000 people (317,450 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 166 per 100,000 people (3,202 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: f11photo / Getty Images

23. Louisiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,601 per 100,000 people (773,621 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 318 per 100,000 people (14,837 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: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

22. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,628 per 100,000 people (933,025 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 174 per 100,000 people (9,778 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

21. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,688 per 100,000 people (301,349 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 276 per 100,000 people (4,990 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: Davel5957 / Getty Images

20. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 16,897 per 100,000 people (1,130,719 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 265 per 100,000 people (17,736 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

19. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,069 per 100,000 people (538,738 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 236 per 100,000 people (7,445 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

18. Oklahoma
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,073 per 100,000 people (673,202 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 286 per 100,000 people (11,272 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

17. Wisconsin
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,161 per 100,000 people (997,688 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 174 per 100,000 people (10,134 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

16. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,294 per 100,000 people (516,486 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 345 per 100,000 people (10,299 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: Kruck20 / Getty Images

15. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,378 per 100,000 people (849,411 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 331 per 100,000 people (16,199 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

14. Florida
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,390 per 100,000 people (3,704,013 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 290 per 100,000 people (61,789 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: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

13. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,633 per 100,000 people (309,314 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 227 per 100,000 people (3,977 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

12. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,707 per 100,000 people (533,658 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 290 per 100,000 people (8,752 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

11. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 17,897 per 100,000 people (799,695 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 253 per 100,000 people (11,289 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: Dreamframer / Getty Images

10. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 18,058 per 100,000 people (1,295,076 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 315 per 100,000 people (22,589 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: peeterv / Getty Images

9. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 18,129 per 100,000 people (192,590 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 261 per 100,000 people (2,768 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

8. South Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 18,193 per 100,000 people (924,968 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 282 per 100,000 people (14,314 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

7. Rhode Island
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 18,627 per 100,000 people (196,949 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 279 per 100,000 people (2,948 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: Bill_Dally / iStock

6. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 19,042 per 100,000 people (601,952 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 114 per 100,000 people (3,595 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: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

5. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 19,129 per 100,000 people (168,763 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 269 per 100,000 people (2,371 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: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

4. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 19,420 per 100,000 people (112,199 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 247 per 100,000 people (1,428 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

3. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 19,608 per 100,000 people (1,327,453 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 258 per 100,000 people (17,487 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: volvob12b / Flickr

2. Alaska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 19,948 per 100,000 people (147,103 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 116 per 100,000 people (853 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: csfotoimages / Getty Images

1. North Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Dec. 8: 21,758 per 100,000 people (165,375 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Dec. 8: 254 per 100,000 people (1,928 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).

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