Special Report

States With the Most Cases of COVID-19

Samuel Stebbins

Published: January 23, 2022 4:45 am

As the omicron variant spreads, new daily cases of COVID-19 have hit new highs in the United States.

Since the first known case was identified in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2020, there have been a total of 67,437,400 reported cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 20,612 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 12,174 to as high as 30,014, 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.

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 Jan. 20, 2022.

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

51. Maine
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 12,174 per 100,000 people (162,941 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 126 per 100,000 people (1,688 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: maximkabb / iStock

50. Hawaii
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 12,421 per 100,000 people (176,439 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 78 per 100,000 people (1,115 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: 4nadia / Getty Images

49. Oregon
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 12,919 per 100,000 people (541,415 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 141 per 100,000 people (5,892 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

48. Vermont
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 13,590 per 100,000 people (85,117 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 76 per 100,000 people (474 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: aiisha5 / iStock

47. Washington
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 14,672 per 100,000 people (1,105,622 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 136 per 100,000 people (10,230 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 Jan. 20: 15,117 per 100,000 people (913,464 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 213 per 100,000 people (12,866 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

45. Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 16,670 per 100,000 people (1,419,897 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 186 per 100,000 people (15,837 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: choness / Getty Images

44. California
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 18,165 per 100,000 people (7,185,586 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 195 per 100,000 people (77,306 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: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images

43. Washington D.C.
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 18,365 per 100,000 people (125,707 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 184 per 100,000 people (1,260 total deaths)
> Population: 702,455

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

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

42. Connecticut
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 18,409 per 100,000 people (657,680 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 268 per 100,000 people (9,564 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

41. New Hampshire
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 18,473 per 100,000 people (250,581 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 154 per 100,000 people (2,085 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

40. Pennsylvania
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 19,426 per 100,000 people (2,487,925 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 302 per 100,000 people (38,655 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: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

39. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 19,633 per 100,000 people (344,412 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 244 per 100,000 people (4,282 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: f11photo / Getty Images

38. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 19,658 per 100,000 people (596,497 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 285 per 100,000 people (8,654 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: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

37. Texas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 19,666 per 100,000 people (5,644,397 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 265 per 100,000 people (76,123 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: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

36. Missouri
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 19,681 per 100,000 people (1,205,772 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 271 per 100,000 people (16,617 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: ferrantraite / Getty Images

35. New Mexico
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,053 per 100,000 people (420,192 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 295 per 100,000 people (6,177 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

34. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,134 per 100,000 people (1,146,740 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 187 per 100,000 people (10,662 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: peeterv / Getty Images

33. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,332 per 100,000 people (215,988 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 278 per 100,000 people (2,957 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: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

32. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,475 per 100,000 people (1,148,888 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 199 per 100,000 people (11,140 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

31. North Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,517 per 100,000 people (2,130,403 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 193 per 100,000 people (20,000 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

30. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,538 per 100,000 people (2,160,539 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 304 per 100,000 people (32,030 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: pawel.gaul / Getty Images

29. Michigan
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,643 per 100,000 people (2,063,409 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 309 per 100,000 people (30,869 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

28. Ohio
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,692 per 100,000 people (2,418,792 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 267 per 100,000 people (31,245 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

27. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 20,862 per 100,000 people (402,489 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 184 per 100,000 people (3,548 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

26. Illinois
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 21,058 per 100,000 people (2,682,983 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 258 per 100,000 people (32,851 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: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

25. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 21,067 per 100,000 people (664,910 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 264 per 100,000 people (8,317 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 / iStock via Getty Images

24. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 21,339 per 100,000 people (621,273 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 246 per 100,000 people (7,162 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

23. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 21,548 per 100,000 people (1,487,277 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 304 per 100,000 people (20,999 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

22. Oklahoma
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 21,633 per 100,000 people (852,997 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 298 per 100,000 people (11,740 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

21. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 21,748 per 100,000 people (392,737 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 308 per 100,000 people (5,561 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

20. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,002 per 100,000 people (657,084 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 356 per 100,000 people (10,642 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: f11photo / Getty Images

19. Louisiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,012 per 100,000 people (1,025,748 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 326 per 100,000 people (15,195 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: Davel5957 / Getty Images

18. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,031 per 100,000 people (1,474,289 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 305 per 100,000 people (20,385 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: Kruck20 / Getty Images

17. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,267 per 100,000 people (1,088,373 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 343 per 100,000 people (16,756 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: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

16. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,597 per 100,000 people (130,553 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 277 per 100,000 people (1,601 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

15. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,615 per 100,000 people (2,014,702 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 339 per 100,000 people (30,170 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

14. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,708 per 100,000 people (1,014,703 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 282 per 100,000 people (12,614 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

13. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,828 per 100,000 people (687,989 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 314 per 100,000 people (9,452 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: Dreamframer / Getty Images

12. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 22,947 per 100,000 people (1,645,694 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 354 per 100,000 people (25,395 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: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

11. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 23,282 per 100,000 people (205,402 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 290 per 100,000 people (2,560 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: volvob12b / Flickr

10. Alaska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 23,369 per 100,000 people (172,329 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 130 per 100,000 people (955 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: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

9. New York
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 23,389 per 100,000 people (4,570,794 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 317 per 100,000 people (62,039 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: mdgmorris / Getty Images

8. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 23,871 per 100,000 people (230,876 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 251 per 100,000 people (2,424 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 / Getty Images

7. Wisconsin
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 24,087 per 100,000 people (1,400,338 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 202 per 100,000 people (11,755 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

6. South Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 24,114 per 100,000 people (1,225,988 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 295 per 100,000 people (15,016 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

5. Florida
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 24,399 per 100,000 people (5,196,718 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 298 per 100,000 people (63,458 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

4. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 24,755 per 100,000 people (1,675,931 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 321 per 100,000 people (21,727 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: Bill_Dally / iStock

3. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 24,998 per 100,000 people (790,216 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 126 per 100,000 people (3,979 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: csfotoimages / Getty Images

2. North Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 26,210 per 100,000 people (199,213 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 269 per 100,000 people (2,047 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

1. Rhode Island
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of Jan. 20: 30,014 per 100,000 people (317,344 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of Jan. 20: 303 per 100,000 people (3,200 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).

Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.