The U.S. is in for a brutal winter of COVID-19 infections. The current wave has been triggered, primarily, by the omicron variant, which currently accounts for the vast majority of new cases in the U.S. Omicron spreads more rapidly than earlier variants, and people have gathered in airports, indoor venues, and in their homes during the holidays. In addition, a large portion of the population is not vaccinated. (These are the states where the most people are vaccinated.)
There also appear to be more breakthrough cases with this variant. These cases involve infection among those who are fully vaccinated, including having had a booster. While omicron is said to cause milder disease, the sheer number of cases means hospitalizations and deaths are climbing nationwide. The deadliest state for COVID-19 is Indiana.
Nationwide, the average of daily deaths is 0.56 per 100,000 people, or 1,873 COVID-19-realted deaths per day, according to The New York Times.Â
There are several ways to measure how dangerous or deadly a geographic area is. Among these are new cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and vaccinations. And, these can be measured by averages over seven- or 14-day periods. For vaccinations, the yardstick is the percentage of the population that has received a shot, or two, or three.
To find the deadliest state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. chose the measure of average daily deaths over the most recent seven days per 100,000, using data from federal, state, and local sources as of Jan. 13.
The death rate in Indiana is the highest at 1.39 average daily deaths per 100,000 people. That is a seven-day average of 93 deaths a day. Indiana is followed by Delaware at 1.29 per 100,000, or 12 deaths a day. Next, Pennsylvania has a figure of 1.04 per 100,000, or 133 deaths per day.
Indiana moved several schools to e-learning because of the alarming spread of omicron. More concerning is that as statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to surpass previous highs, some hospitals are saying they are running low on treatments that prevent severe illness.Â
Fox59 reports that “This set back in supply means area hospitals are now forced to restrict who is eligible to receive the life-saving treatment.” In addition to supplies, some states are experiencing medical staff shortages. These are 16 states where hospitals are experiencing the worst workforce shortages.
Click here to see this is the deadliest state for COVID-19
Source: John Pennell / iStock via Getty Images
50. Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.02
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.14 (2nd lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: vermontalm / iStock via Getty Images
49. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.02
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.14 (2nd lowest)
Source: YangYin / iStock via Getty Images
48. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.11
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.57 (3rd lowest)
Source: THEPALMER / E+ via Getty Images
47. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 39.57 (15th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
46. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.00 (23rd lowest)
Source: Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
45. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.22
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.29 (5th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: David Ryder / Getty Images News via Getty Images
44. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.00 (23rd lowest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: halbergman / E+ via Getty Images
43. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 91.43 (7th highest)
Source: Sean Gardner / Getty Images News via Getty Images
42. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.26
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.00 (14th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
41. North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.29
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 30.29 (19th highest)
40. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.29
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.00 (7th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Go Nakamura / Getty Images News via Getty Images
39. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.30
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 85.86 (8th highest)
38. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.33
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.86 (16th lowest)
37. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.57 (6th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Jessica McGowan / Getty Images News via Getty Images
36. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 35.71 (16th highest)
Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
35. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.14 (13th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Jamie Squire / Getty Images News via Getty Images
34. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.00 (12th lowest)
Source: hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
33. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.86 (19th lowest)
Source: Prentiss Findlay / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
32. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.37
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 18.57 (25th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
31. Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.40
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.29 (5th lowest)
Source: Sean Rayford / Getty Images News via Getty Images
30. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.40
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.71 (25th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DmitryPepper / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
29. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.44
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.86 (9th lowest)
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images
28. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.44
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.29 (18th lowest)
27. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 7.86 (11th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images
26. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.48
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 27.57 (20th highest)
Source: Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images
25. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.49
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.29 (8th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Nicholas Nace / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
24. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.50
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 33.86 (18th highest)
Source: RichVintage / E+ via Getty Images
23. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.50
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.86 (21st lowest)
22. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.52
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.71 (20th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Andy Lyons / Getty Images News via Getty Images
21. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.57 (22nd highest)
Source: Jeff Wallager / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
20. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.61
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 34.00 (17th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images
19. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.64
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.00 (23rd highest)
Source: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images News via Getty Images
18. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.65
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.86 (10th lowest)
Source: Michael Thomas / Getty Images News via Getty Images
17. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.71 (13th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
16. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.69
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.14 (14th highest)
Source: wanderluster / E+ via Getty Images
15. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.72
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.00 (17th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images News via Getty Images
14. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.73
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 50.43 (12th highest)
Source: wdstock / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
13. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.77
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 69.00 (9th highest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
12. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.80
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 102.29 (4th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: mrolands / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
11. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.82
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.00 (21st highest)
Source: Victor J. Blue / Getty Images News via Getty Images
10. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.83
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 162.43 (the highest)
[in-text-ad]
9. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.90
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.43 (24th lowest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
8. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.93
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 108.71 (3rd highest)
Source: grandriver / E+ via Getty Images
7. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.95
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 68.14 (10th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images News via Getty Images
6. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.96
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 96.00 (5th highest)
Source: Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images
5. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 60.29 (11th highest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sharon Chischilly / Getty Images News via Getty Images
4. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.01
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21.14 (24th highest)
Source: Alex Potemkin / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
3. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.04
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 133.00 (2nd highest)
Source: Mark Makela / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.29
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.43 (15th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
1. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.39
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 93.14 (6th highest)
Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
