Special Report

States With the Most Cases of COVID-19

Samuel Stebbins

Published: March 20, 2022 5:45 am

The omicron variant brought new daily cases of COVID-19 to all time highs in the United States. Though omicron appears to have peaked, the virus is still spreading.

Since the first known case was identified in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2020, there have been a total of 78,891,500 reported cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 24,113 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 16,321 to as high as 32,220, 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, virtually no corner of the country has been spared.

Still, some states have been hit harder than others.

The severity of a COVID-19 outbreak across a given state is subject to a wide range of factors. 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 eight states, seven 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 March 17, 2022.

Source: maximkabb / iStock

51. Hawaii
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 16,321 per 100,000 people (231,844 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 94 per 100,000 people (1,342 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: Davel5957 / Getty Images

50. Maryland
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 16,671 per 100,000 people (1,007,372 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 236 per 100,000 people (14,280 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: 4nadia / Getty Images

49. Oregon
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 16,712 per 100,000 people (700,361 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 165 per 100,000 people (6,899 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 March 17: 16,920 per 100,000 people (105,967 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 92 per 100,000 people (578 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

47. Maine
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 17,405 per 100,000 people (232,953 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 162 per 100,000 people (2,167 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: aiisha5 / iStock

46. Washington
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 19,134 per 100,000 people (1,441,828 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 162 per 100,000 people (12,219 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

45. Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 19,458 per 100,000 people (1,657,409 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 228 per 100,000 people (19,392 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: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images

44. Washington D.C.
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 19,755 per 100,000 people (135,223 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 194 per 100,000 people (1,326 total deaths)
> Population: 702,455

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

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

43. Connecticut
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 20,456 per 100,000 people (730,811 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 299 per 100,000 people (10,675 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

42. Pennsylvania
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 21,635 per 100,000 people (2,770,778 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 343 per 100,000 people (43,909 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

41. New Hampshire
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 22,157 per 100,000 people (300,550 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 179 per 100,000 people (2,424 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

40. Ohio
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 22,788 per 100,000 people (2,663,835 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 320 per 100,000 people (37,410 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: choness / Getty Images

39. California
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 22,832 per 100,000 people (9,031,767 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 219 per 100,000 people (86,792 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: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

38. Missouri
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 22,932 per 100,000 people (1,404,910 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 322 per 100,000 people (19,726 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: RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images

37. Texas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,015 per 100,000 people (6,605,761 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 297 per 100,000 people (85,123 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: f11photo / Getty Images

36. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,311 per 100,000 people (1,327,685 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 208 per 100,000 people (11,870 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: f11photo / Getty Images

35. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,422 per 100,000 people (710,709 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 327 per 100,000 people (9,933 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

34. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,566 per 100,000 people (2,478,986 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 345 per 100,000 people (36,294 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

33. Michigan
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,754 per 100,000 people (2,374,382 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 353 per 100,000 people (35,301 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

32. Illinois
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,935 per 100,000 people (3,049,616 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 293 per 100,000 people (37,392 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

31. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 23,993 per 100,000 people (757,265 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 296 per 100,000 people (9,349 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

30. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 24,387 per 100,000 people (1,683,224 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 290 per 100,000 people (19,997 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

29. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 24,500 per 100,000 people (2,182,557 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 372 per 100,000 people (33,126 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: ferrantraite / Getty Images

28. New Mexico
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 24,607 per 100,000 people (515,625 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 339 per 100,000 people (7,103 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

27. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 24,730 per 100,000 people (477,108 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 210 per 100,000 people (4,044 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: f11photo / Getty Images

26. Louisiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,037 per 100,000 people (1,166,698 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 364 per 100,000 people (16,950 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: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

25. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,078 per 100,000 people (439,928 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 275 per 100,000 people (4,819 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

24. North Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,159 per 100,000 people (2,612,382 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 221 per 100,000 people (22,966 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: Davel5957 / Getty Images

23. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,218 per 100,000 people (1,687,591 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 347 per 100,000 people (23,193 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: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

22. New York
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,261 per 100,000 people (4,936,649 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 344 per 100,000 people (67,137 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: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

21. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,357 per 100,000 people (1,422,815 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 223 per 100,000 people (12,489 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: peeterv / Getty Images

20. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 25,593 per 100,000 people (271,875 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 304 per 100,000 people (3,226 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

19. Oklahoma
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,082 per 100,000 people (1,028,420 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 348 per 100,000 people (13,730 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: Kruck20 / Getty Images

18. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,395 per 100,000 people (1,290,171 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 388 per 100,000 people (18,944 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: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

17. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,406 per 100,000 people (768,820 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 276 per 100,000 people (8,028 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

16. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,556 per 100,000 people (793,103 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 411 per 100,000 people (12,288 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: mdgmorris / Getty Images

15. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,705 per 100,000 people (258,287 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 291 per 100,000 people (2,811 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: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

14. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,831 per 100,000 people (236,715 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 324 per 100,000 people (2,861 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: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

13. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 26,970 per 100,000 people (155,815 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 306 per 100,000 people (1,769 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

12. Wisconsin
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 27,158 per 100,000 people (1,578,877 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 238 per 100,000 people (13,820 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

11. Florida
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 27,371 per 100,000 people (5,829,817 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 339 per 100,000 people (72,246 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

10. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 27,451 per 100,000 people (827,336 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 364 per 100,000 people (10,971 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

9. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 27,452 per 100,000 people (495,728 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 365 per 100,000 people (6,598 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: Dreamframer / Getty Images

8. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 27,711 per 100,000 people (1,987,318 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 392 per 100,000 people (28,090 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

7. South Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 28,830 per 100,000 people (1,465,739 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 342 per 100,000 people (17,380 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

6. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 29,097 per 100,000 people (1,300,189 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 323 per 100,000 people (14,438 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: Bill_Dally / iStock

5. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 29,292 per 100,000 people (925,966 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 144 per 100,000 people (4,550 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

4. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 29,790 per 100,000 people (2,016,768 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 375 per 100,000 people (25,400 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: csfotoimages / Getty Images

3. North Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 31,481 per 100,000 people (239,283 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 293 per 100,000 people (2,228 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: volvob12b / Flickr

2. Alaska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 32,003 per 100,000 people (236,001 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 158 per 100,000 people (1,168 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

1. Rhode Island
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of March 17: 32,220 per 100,000 people (340,671 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of March 17: 324 per 100,000 people (3,423 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.