Special Report

States With the Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases

Samuel Stebbins

Published: April 10, 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 79,501,000 reported cases of COVID-19 nationwide — or 24,300 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 16,520 to as high as 32,569, 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 April 7, 2022.

Source: maximkabb / iStock

51. Hawaii
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 16,520 per 100,000 people (234,659 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 96 per 100,000 people (1,367 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 April 7: 16,784 per 100,000 people (1,014,223 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 238 per 100,000 people (14,365 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 April 7: 16,834 per 100,000 people (705,466 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 172 per 100,000 people (7,219 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 April 7: 17,387 per 100,000 people (108,892 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 94 per 100,000 people (590 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 April 7: 17,706 per 100,000 people (236,984 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 165 per 100,000 people (2,208 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 April 7: 19,363 per 100,000 people (1,459,147 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 166 per 100,000 people (12,527 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 April 7: 19,646 per 100,000 people (1,673,395 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 232 per 100,000 people (19,789 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 April 7: 20,103 per 100,000 people (137,603 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 195 per 100,000 people (1,332 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 April 7: 20,684 per 100,000 people (738,976 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 302 per 100,000 people (10,793 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 April 7: 21,742 per 100,000 people (2,784,487 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 346 per 100,000 people (44,348 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 April 7: 22,347 per 100,000 people (303,134 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 181 per 100,000 people (2,455 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 April 7: 22,865 per 100,000 people (2,672,801 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 325 per 100,000 people (38,042 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 April 7: 23,018 per 100,000 people (9,105,181 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 223 per 100,000 people (88,355 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 April 7: 23,043 per 100,000 people (1,411,722 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 326 per 100,000 people (19,993 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 April 7: 23,272 per 100,000 people (6,679,357 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 300 per 100,000 people (86,096 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. Nevada
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 23,536 per 100,000 people (714,180 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 334 per 100,000 people (10,131 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: f11photo / Getty Images

35. Colorado
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 23,718 per 100,000 people (1,350,848 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 210 per 100,000 people (11,980 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

34. Georgia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 23,781 per 100,000 people (2,501,688 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 353 per 100,000 people (37,177 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 April 7: 23,905 per 100,000 people (2,389,506 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 357 per 100,000 people (35,706 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: pabradyphoto / Getty Images

32. Iowa
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 24,061 per 100,000 people (759,393 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 300 per 100,000 people (9,454 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 / Getty Images

31. Illinois
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 24,130 per 100,000 people (3,074,434 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 296 per 100,000 people (37,727 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

30. Massachusetts
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 24,698 per 100,000 people (1,704,668 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 292 per 100,000 people (20,134 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: ferrantraite / Getty Images

29. New Mexico
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 24,747 per 100,000 people (518,557 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 349 per 100,000 people (7,315 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

28. New Jersey
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 24,766 per 100,000 people (2,206,255 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 373 per 100,000 people (33,264 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: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

27. Nebraska
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 24,772 per 100,000 people (477,915 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 216 per 100,000 people (4,164 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 April 7: 25,085 per 100,000 people (1,168,934 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 368 per 100,000 people (17,154 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

25. Indiana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 25,283 per 100,000 people (1,691,874 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 350 per 100,000 people (23,438 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: knowlesgallery / Getty Images

24. Idaho
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 25,339 per 100,000 people (444,499 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 279 per 100,000 people (4,887 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

23. North Carolina
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 25,364 per 100,000 people (2,633,667 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 224 per 100,000 people (23,257 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: Scruggelgreen / Getty Images

22. Minnesota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 25,514 per 100,000 people (1,431,643 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 225 per 100,000 people (12,649 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: FilippoBacci / Getty Images

21. New York
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 25,577 per 100,000 people (4,998,338 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 345 per 100,000 people (67,365 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: peeterv / Getty Images

20. Montana
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 25,673 per 100,000 people (272,727 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 306 per 100,000 people (3,252 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 April 7: 26,256 per 100,000 people (1,035,301 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 355 per 100,000 people (14,010 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 / iStock via Getty Images

18. Kansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 26,456 per 100,000 people (770,275 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 288 per 100,000 people (8,397 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: Kruck20 / Getty Images

17. Alabama
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 26,522 per 100,000 people (1,296,354 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 396 per 100,000 people (19,374 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: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

16. Mississippi
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 26,630 per 100,000 people (795,298 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 415 per 100,000 people (12,407 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: EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images

15. South Dakota
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 26,876 per 100,000 people (237,109 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 327 per 100,000 people (2,883 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: mdgmorris / Getty Images

14. Delaware
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 26,885 per 100,000 people (260,024 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 297 per 100,000 people (2,871 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: Cliff / Wikimedia Commons

13. Wyoming
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 27,048 per 100,000 people (156,264 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 311 per 100,000 people (1,796 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 April 7: 27,303 per 100,000 people (1,587,255 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 247 per 100,000 people (14,334 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 April 7: 27,508 per 100,000 people (5,858,937 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 345 per 100,000 people (73,456 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. West Virginia
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 27,584 per 100,000 people (498,128 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 372 per 100,000 people (6,716 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: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

9. Arkansas
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 27,648 per 100,000 people (833,265 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 375 per 100,000 people (11,290 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

8. Arizona
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 27,988 per 100,000 people (2,007,180 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 408 per 100,000 people (29,268 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 April 7: 28,908 per 100,000 people (1,469,706 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 347 per 100,000 people (17,650 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: Bill_Dally / iStock

6. Utah
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 29,354 per 100,000 people (927,922 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 149 per 100,000 people (4,721 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

5. Kentucky
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 29,478 per 100,000 people (1,317,215 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 337 per 100,000 people (15,073 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

4. Tennessee
> Cumulative cases of COVID-19 as of April 7: 29,860 per 100,000 people (2,021,549 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 381 per 100,000 people (25,796 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 April 7: 31,572 per 100,000 people (239,970 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 296 per 100,000 people (2,247 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 April 7: 32,511 per 100,000 people (239,750 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 162 per 100,000 people (1,195 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 April 7: 32,569 per 100,000 people (344,352 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of April 7: 333 per 100,000 people (3,523 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.