This Is the Deadliest State for COVID-19

By Sam Stebbins Published Mar 3, 8:00AM EST

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This Is the Deadliest State for COVID-19 — © RichVintage / E+ via Getty Images

Nearly two years in, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of nearly 950,000 people in the United States. Despite early indications that the omicron variant, which was first detected in the U.S. on Dec. 1, 2021, would be less severe, deaths have continued to rise in the United States.

Since the emergence of the omicron variant, the death toll in the United States has risen significantly. In the past seven days alone, nearly 13,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported across the 50 states. But as the numbers of new cases have been declining nationwide, so should the numbers of new deaths. (Find out also how COVID fatality rates compare with other deadly diseases.)

To find the deadliest state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. ranked states by the average daily deaths 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 deadliest state for the virus, with an average of daily deaths of nearly 23 over the past seven days, or 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people. Deaths have also been increasing in the state, and the average of new daily deaths is 238% higher than it was 14 days ago.

This compares to Rhode Island, which reported an average of 1.7 daily deaths over the past seven days, or 0.16 per 100,000 people. Average daily deaths in the state declined by 70% compared to 14 days ago.

Other states with relatively high COVID-19 deaths rates over the past week include West Virginia, Arizona, Missouri, and Alabama. Like Maine, average new deaths in these states have also increased over the past seven days. Still, encouragingly, the average number of daily deaths has fallen in 35 states and remained unchanged in two. It is often said that hospitalizations and deaths are lagging the trend of new cases. (These are the states where the most people are vaccinated.)

Click here to see the deadliest state for COVID-19

50. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.71 (the lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -70.73% (3rd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,406 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 322 (19th highest)

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49. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.71 (8th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -83.54% (the highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 7,930 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 272 (18th lowest)

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48. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.00 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -77.53% (2nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,750 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 206 (10th lowest)

47. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.26
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.71 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -62.33% (4th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,091 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 233 (16th lowest)

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46. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.26
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.00 (2nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -54.84% (6th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,183 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 287 (20th lowest)

45. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.28
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 8.71 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -39.00% (11th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,397 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 139 (3rd lowest)

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44. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.33
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 64.57 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -53.64% (7th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 66,641 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 341 (10th highest)

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43. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.38
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.43 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -20.83% (12th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,300 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 92 (2nd lowest)

42. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.41
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.57 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 0.00% (14th highest change)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 564 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 90 (the lowest)

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41. Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.43
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 3.14 (4th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 4.76% (4th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,130 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 153 (5th lowest)

40. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.29 (19th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -52.76% (9th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 32,826 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 368 (4th highest)

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39. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.29 (9th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -21.43% (13th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,370 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 175 (8th lowest)

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38. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.47
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.14 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -28.24% (17th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,246 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 218 (14th lowest)

37. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.49
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.29 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -49.15% (10th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,788 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 316 (21st highest)

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36. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.50
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.86 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -8.76% (5th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,443 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 292 (24th lowest)

35. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.51
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 200.29 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -3.51% (the lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 83,784 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 212 (11th lowest)

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34. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.52
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 67.00 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -53.43% (8th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 43,002 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 336 (13th highest)

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33. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.55
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.14 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -10.50% (6th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,578 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 157 (7th lowest)

32. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.56
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 71.29 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -34.26% (15th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 36,694 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 288 (22nd lowest)

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31. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 33.14 (22nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -30.54% (17th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 13,223 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 227 (15th lowest)

30. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.62
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.57 (18th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -20.35% (11th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 9,085 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 288 (21st lowest)

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29. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.63
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.14 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 1.19% (the lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,956 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 205 (9th lowest)

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28. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 140.29 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -26.33% (16th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 69,554 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 327 (18th highest)

27. North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 68.71 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -28.85% (18th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 22,449 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 216 (12th lowest)

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26. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 29.57 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -19.77% (10th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 13,689 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 306 (24th highest)

25. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 45.71 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -33.61% (16th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,341 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 338 (12th highest)

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24. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.67
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 33.86 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -55.03% (5th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 16,646 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 327 (17th highest)

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23. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.72
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.57 (14th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 3.53% (3rd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,722 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 269 (17th lowest)

22. Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.72
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.14 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 70.59% (3rd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,718 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 297 (25th lowest)

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21. Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.72
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 7.00 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 0.00% (14th highest change)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,703 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 279 (19th lowest)

20. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.77
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 51.29 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -16.51% (8th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 22,736 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 340 (11th highest)

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19. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.78
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 223.43 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -5.33% (3rd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 83,121 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 290 (23rd lowest)

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18. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.79
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.86 (22nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -36.02% (14th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 9,613 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 317 (20th highest)

17. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.79
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 59.43 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 19.20% (6th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,732 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 156 (6th lowest)

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16. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.81
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 31.86 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -3.88% (2nd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,990 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 329 (15th highest)

15. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.81
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 81.29 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -18.95% (9th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 34,439 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 345 (8th highest)

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14. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.85
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 39.71 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -22.13% (14th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 16,582 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 356 (6th highest)

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13. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.91
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 27.29 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -22.67% (15th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,381 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 344 (9th highest)

12. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.95
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.14 (12th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 102.86% (2nd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,162 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 298 (25th highest)

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11. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.98
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 20.57 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 2.13% (2nd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,873 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 328 (16th highest)

10. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.99
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 84.43 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -36.72% (13th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 18,538 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 218 (13th lowest)

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9. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.99
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 104.29 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -8.29% (4th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 35,194 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 335 (14th highest)

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8. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.01
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 30.29 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -37.28% (12th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,984 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 401 (the highest)

7. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 72.29 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 23.11% (5th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 24,374 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 360 (5th highest)

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6. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 127.86 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -15.17% (7th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 36,267 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 310 (22nd highest)

5. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.17
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 57.00 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 37.59% (4th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 18,186 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 372 (3rd highest)

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4. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.17
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 71.86 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 22.38% (6th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 18,835 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 307 (23rd highest)

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3. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.37
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 98.14 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 5.37% (5th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 27,876 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 389 (2nd highest)

2. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.29 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 21.05% (7th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,288 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 348 (7th highest)

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1. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.70
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 22.71 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 238.30% (the highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,042 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 153 (4th lowest)

About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at 247WallSt.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.