It has been about two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and two months since the U.S. was hit with omicron – a variant shown to be four times more infectious than the delta variant, which itself is twice as infectious as the original strain. The highly contagious omicron variant has sent infection rates soaring to new all-time highs in the United States, more than doubling the previous record set in January 2021.Â
Over the past seven days alone, over 3.6 million new infections were reported across the 50 states, or 110.4 for every 10,000 people. The recent surge in cases is affecting different states at different times, however, and currently, some parts of the country are far more dangerous than others. (COVID-19 these are the states fighting it most successfully.)
To find the most dangerous state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. used data from federal, state, and local sources as of Feb. 1, 2022. Currently, Alaska ranks as the most dangerous state for the virus, with 16,629 new cases reported in the last seven days, or 227 cases for every 10,000 people.
Other states with especially high COVID-19 infection rates in recent days include Kentucky, Washington, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Some of these states have reported an average of over 10,000 new cases per day in the past week. (These are the states getting the most COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government.)
Encouragingly, the average number of new daily cases has fallen in the vast majority of states between the past seven days and the seven days prior. Many public health experts speculate that the omicron variant may have already peaked in the U.S. However, it is important to note that cases remain high, and hospitalizations and deaths typically lag behind the infection rate.
Click here to see the most dangerous state for COVID-19
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50. Maryland
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 30.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,655 (12th fewest)
> 14-day change: -65.4% (7th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 18,588
> Population : 6,045,680
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49. New Jersey
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 47.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 6,013 (23rd fewest)
> 14-day change: -67.3% (4th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 42,091
> Population : 8,882,190
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48. New York
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 47.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 13,216 (12th most)
> 14-day change: -70.5% (2nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 92,509
> Population : 19,453,561
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47. Maine
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 54.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,047 (2nd fewest)
> 14-day change: -1.0% (47th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 7,326
> Population : 1,344,212
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46. Ohio
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 59.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 10,010 (18th most)
> 14-day change: -70.8% (largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 70,070
> Population : 11,689,100
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45. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 65.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 12,012 (15th most)
> 14-day change: -57.4% (10th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 84,087
> Population : 12,801,989
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44. Connecticut
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 68.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,485 (15th fewest)
> 14-day change: -43.1% (23rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 24,396
> Population : 3,565,287
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43. Delaware
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 76.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,066 (3rd fewest)
> 14-day change: -65.6% (6th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 7,459
> Population : 973,764
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42. Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 82.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 10,071 (17th most)
> 14-day change: -37.8% (28th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 70,499
> Population : 8,535,519
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41. Vermont
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 87.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 779 (the fewest)
> 14-day change: -53.3% (12th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 5,455
> Population : 623,989
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40. Florida
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 87.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 26,854 (3rd most)
> 14-day change: -47.1% (18th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 187,975
> Population : 21,477,737
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39. Texas
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 89.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 36,940 (2nd most)
> 14-day change: -59.4% (9th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 258,577
> Population : 28,995,881
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38. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 90.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,924 (21st most)
> 14-day change: -49.8% (15th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 62,465
> Population : 6,892,503
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37. Missouri
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 93.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,228 (22nd most)
> 14-day change: -51.4% (14th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 57,595
> Population : 6,137,428
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36. Colorado
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 94.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,785 (24th most)
> 14-day change: -43.5% (20th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 54,494
> Population : 5,758,736
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35. Iowa
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 94.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,275 (18th fewest)
> 14-day change: -41.4% (26th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 29,925
> Population : 3,155,070
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34. Louisiana
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 97.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 6,464 (24th fewest)
> 14-day change: -41.7% (25th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 45,251
> Population : 4,648,794
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33. Arkansas
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 97.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,203 (17th fewest)
> 14-day change: -65.3% (8th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 29,423
> Population : 3,017,804
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32. Illinois
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 97.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 17,687 (6th most)
> 14-day change: -42.0% (24th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 123,812
> Population : 12,671,821
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31. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 98.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,173 (23rd most)
> 14-day change: -67.5% (3rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 57,213
> Population : 5,822,434
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30. South Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 98.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,247 (4th fewest)
> 14-day change: -46.0% (19th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 8,727
> Population : 884,659
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29. Hawaii
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 107.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,169 (9th fewest)
> 14-day change: -66.1% (5th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 15,186
> Population : 1,415,872
28. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 108.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,100 (8th fewest)
> 14-day change: -39.5% (27th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 14,699
> Population : 1,359,711
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27. Nevada
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 109.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,798 (20th fewest)
> 14-day change: -30.9% (34th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 33,583
> Population : 3,080,156
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26. Idaho
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 110.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,809 (13th fewest)
> 14-day change: -9.1% (46th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 19,664
> Population : 1,787,065
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25. Georgia
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 110.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 16,692 (7th most)
> 14-day change: -14.3% (43rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 116,843
> Population : 10,617,423
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24. Michigan
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 111.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 15,851 (8th most)
> 14-day change: -33.1% (32nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 110,955
> Population : 9,986,857
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23. Nebraska
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 115.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,186 (14th fewest)
> 14-day change: -23.5% (40th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 22,302
> Population : 1,934,408
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22. Oregon
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 118.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,109 (25th most)
> 14-day change: -24.8% (39th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 49,761
> Population : 4,217,737
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21. Indiana
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 118.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 11,364 (16th most)
> 14-day change: -30.5% (35th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 79,545
> Population : 6,732,219
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20. Mississippi
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 121.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,183 (21st fewest)
> 14-day change: -35.3% (30th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 36,284
> Population : 2,976,149
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19. Alabama
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 132.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 9,301 (20th most)
> 14-day change: -51.4% (13th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 65,109
> Population : 4,903,185
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18. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 135.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,043 (7th fewest)
> 14-day change: -53.6% (11th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 14,298
> Population : 1,059,361
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17. Kansas
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 142.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,917 (22nd fewest)
> 14-day change: -47.9% (17th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 41,419
> Population : 2,913,314
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16. Arizona
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 145.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 15,119 (10th most)
> 14-day change: -49.5% (16th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 105,833
> Population : 7,278,717
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15. West Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 146.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,739 (16th fewest)
> 14-day change: -43.4% (21st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 26,174
> Population : 1,792,147
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14. Utah
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 153.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,037 (25th fewest)
> 14-day change: -43.2% (22nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 49,262
> Population : 3,205,958
13. North Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 154.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 23,159 (4th most)
> 14-day change: -31.7% (33rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 162,114
> Population : 10,488,084
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12. New Mexico
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 155.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,654 (19th fewest)
> 14-day change: -26.3% (38th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 32,579
> Population : 2,096,829
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11. Montana
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 156.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,387 (11th fewest)
> 14-day change: +37.0% (largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 16,708
> Population : 1,068,778
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10. Wyoming
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 158.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,308 (5th fewest)
> 14-day change: -11.8% (44th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 9,157
> Population : 578,759
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9. Tennessee
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 159.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 15,510 (9th most)
> 14-day change: -22.0% (42nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 108,570
> Population : 6,829,174
8. North Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 161.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,760 (6th fewest)
> 14-day change: -34.5% (31st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 12,322
> Population : 762,062
Source: Mario Tama / Getty Images News via Getty Images
7. California
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 162.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 91,893 (the most)
> 14-day change: -28.6% (36th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 643,248
> Population : 39,512,223
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6. Minnesota
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 164.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 13,276 (11th most)
> 14-day change: +3.2% (3rd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 92,931
> Population : 5,639,632
Source: Prentiss Findlay / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
5. South Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 167.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 12,334 (13th most)
> 14-day change: -35.5% (29th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 86,337
> Population : 5,148,714
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4. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 176.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 9,963 (19th most)
> 14-day change: -28.0% (37th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 69,742
> Population : 3,956,971
Source: David Ryder / Getty Images News via Getty Images
3. Washington
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 187.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 20,380 (5th most)
> 14-day change: +12.8% (2nd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 142,663
> Population : 7,614,893
Source: Jon Cherry / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Kentucky
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 189.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 12,086 (14th most)
> 14-day change: -10.3% (45th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 84,603
> Population : 4,467,673
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1. Alaska
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 227.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,376 (10th fewest)
> 14-day change: -23.0% (41st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 16,629
> Population : 731,545
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