It has been about two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the highly transmissible omicron variant sent infection rates soaring to all-time highs in January 2021, the recent wave seems to be subsiding as cases are dropping nationwide.
But just as the U.S. has surpassed 900,000 deaths in early February, chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci told the Financial Times the U.S. is exiting the “full blown” pandemic phase of COVID-19. The virus would be more manageable thanks to vaccinations, treatments, and prior infection. (These are the states getting the most COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government.)
Fauci further predicted that soon many pandemic-related restrictions would end. Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Feb. 25, changes to its mask wearing guidelines, allowing most Americans not to wear a mask indoors.
To find the most dangerous state for COIVD-19, 24/7 Wall St. ranked states by average daily cases over the most recent seven days per 100,000 people, using data from federal, state, and local sources as of Feb. 28.
Currently, Maine ranks as the most dangerous state for the virus, with 2,750 average daily new cases in the last seven days, or 205 daily cases for every 100,000 people. Maine is also the only state where cases grew over the past two weeks, with a 14-day change in average new cases of nearly 165%.
This compares to Nebraska, which reported an average of 202 new daily cases in the past seven days, or 10 cases per 100,000 — the fewest. Cases in Nebraska dropped 76% in the past 14 days. (COVID-19: These are the states fighting it most successfully.)
Other states with relatively high COVID-19 infection rates in recent days include Idaho, Montana, Kentucky, and West Virginia. Still, cases in all these states have declined compared to 14 days ago. Encouragingly, the average number of new daily cases has fallen in all states but one, Maine.
Click here to see the most dangerous state for COVID-19
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50. Nebraska
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 10.47
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 202.00 (4th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -76.30% (5th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 453,569 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,510 (18th lowest)
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49. Maryland
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 12.37
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 747.71 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -46.53% (7th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,000,562 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 16,558 (4th lowest)
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48. Washington
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 13.21
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 995.29 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -80.43% (2nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,417,563 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 18,812 (6th lowest)
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47. Ohio
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 14.04
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,641.43 (19th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -61.76% (20th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,649,692 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,667 (13th lowest)
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46. Nevada
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 15.78
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 478.71 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -69.89% (13th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 679,715 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,400 (11th lowest)
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45. New York
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 16.16
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,157.29 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -55.66% (15th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 4,901,972 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,084 (22nd highest)
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44. Indiana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 17.70
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,184.57 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -67.55% (21st highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,679,591 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,099 (21st highest)
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43. Connecticut
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 17.73
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 633.43 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -52.16% (11th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 721,954 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 20,208 (8th lowest)
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42. New Jersey
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 17.86
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,591.14 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -45.08% (6th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,161,489 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,263 (24th lowest)
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41. Kansas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 17.87
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 520.14 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -72.73% (8th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 764,239 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,249 (17th highest)
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40. Illinois
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 18.70
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,382.29 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -65.55% (24th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 3,024,663 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,739 (21st lowest)
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39. Delaware
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 19.23
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 186.00 (2nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -64.40% (23rd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 255,385 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,405 (15th highest)
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38. Iowa
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 19.39
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 612.00 (12th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -63.67% (21st lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 748,057 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,702 (20th lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
37. Georgia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 19.80
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,082.57 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -66.52% (23rd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,461,103 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,396 (17th lowest)
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36. Florida
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 20.58
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,383.29 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -78.47% (4th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 5,800,599 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,234 (9th highest)
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35. Missouri
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 20.94
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,282.86 (22nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -68.86% (14th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,394,010 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,754 (14th lowest)
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34. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 21.23
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,234.00 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -65.49% (25th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,569,673 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,000 (11th highest)
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33. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 21.75
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,785.29 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -50.27% (10th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,751,352 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 21,483 (9th lowest)
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32. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 22.12
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 233.86 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -70.23% (11th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 337,754 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 31,945 (the highest)
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31. Michigan
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 22.24
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,223.43 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -58.85% (17th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,352,970 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,539 (19th lowest)
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30. Mississippi
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 22.62
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 675.43 (14th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -87.19% (the highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 788,479 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,401 (16th highest)
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29. Alabama
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 22.86
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,117.57 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -74.17% (7th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,277,843 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,143 (18th highest)
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28. Louisiana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 23.02
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,072.71 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -68.79% (16th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,161,957 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,935 (24th highest)
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27. Utah
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 24.13
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 762.86 (18th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -68.83% (15th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 921,531 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,152 (5th highest)
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26. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 24.49
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,690.00 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -53.68% (12th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,668,242 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,170 (23rd lowest)
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25. Hawaii
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 24.99
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 355.00 (8th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -67.84% (20th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 229,477 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 16,155 (the lowest)
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24. North Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 25.04
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 190.29 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -80.40% (3rd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 237,599 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 31,260 (2nd highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
23. Texas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 25.42
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,296.57 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -64.27% (22nd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 6,533,512 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,763 (15th lowest)
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22. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 26.52
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,045.86 (22nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -40.43% (3rd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,019,489 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,855 (19th highest)
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21. Minnesota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 27.93
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,567.00 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -69.99% (12th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,411,593 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,157 (20th highest)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images
20. Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 27.96
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,381.86 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -55.14% (14th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,636,526 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 19,213 (7th lowest)
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19. California
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.03
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 11,088.40 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -74.49% (6th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 8,920,848 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,552 (12th lowest)
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18. Wyoming
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.04
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 162.00 (the lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -70.35% (10th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 154,797 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,794 (13th highest)
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17. Oregon
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 29.90
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,253.00 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -68.62% (18th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 691,337 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 16,497 (2nd lowest)
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16. Colorado
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 31.23
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,778.57 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -50.27% (9th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,309,778 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,996 (16th lowest)
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15. South Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 31.77
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 280.29 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -43.33% (4th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 235,654 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,711 (14th highest)
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14. Arizona
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 32.66
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,342.00 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -68.76% (17th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,973,479 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,518 (8th highest)
Source: Davel5957 / Getty Images
13. New Mexico
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 33.89
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 710.14 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -66.72% (22nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 510,330 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,354 (25th lowest)
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12. Arkansas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 34.50
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,039.71 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -55.04% (13th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 817,798 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,135 (10th highest)
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11. South Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 35.58
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,808.71 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -64.71% (24th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,457,995 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 28,677 (6th highest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
10. Vermont
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 35.90
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 224.86 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -43.48% (5th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 103,569 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 16,537 (3rd lowest)
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9. Tennessee
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 39.20
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,654.00 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -71.96% (9th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,002,199 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,575 (4th highest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
8. North Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 40.14
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,168.29 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -61.25% (19th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,578,517 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,833 (25th highest)
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7. Alaska
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 55.69
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 410.71 (9th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -68.06% (19th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 229,986 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 31,187 (3rd highest)
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6. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 56.13
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 761.43 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -36.01% (2nd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 296,870 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 21,886 (10th lowest)
Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images
5. West Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 65.12
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,176.00 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -56.44% (16th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 487,446 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,993 (12th highest)
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4. Kentucky
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 67.11
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,998.86 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -58.97% (18th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,270,258 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 28,428 (7th highest)
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3. Montana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 73.64
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 782.29 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -49.56% (8th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 265,177 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,962 (23rd highest)
Source: mattalberts / Getty Images
2. Idaho
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 101.45
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,779.71 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -19.67% (the lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 421,587 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,033 (22nd lowest)
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1. Maine
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 205.45
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,749.71 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 164.72% (the highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 225,253 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 16,830 (5th lowest)
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