Special Report

This is the City in Pennsylvania With the Most COVID-19 Cases

Evan Comen

Published: July 29, 2021 5:30 am

The U.S. has reported more than 34.0 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of July 27. More than 604,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 — the highest death toll of any country.

Nationwide, there were an average of 12.6 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending July 27. Cumulatively, the U.S. has reported 10,279.5 cases per 100,000 Americans, and 184.3 deaths per 100,000 Americans.

In Pennsylvania, there were an average of 2.7 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week ending July 27. Cumulatively, Pennsylvania has reported 9,502.8 cases per 100,000 state residents, the 12th fewest of all 50 states. Pennsylvania has reported 217.3 deaths per 100,000, the 11th most of all 50 states.

While the nation’s largest metropolitan areas were hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, nearly every city has suffered from the virus. Outbreaks are particularly likely to occur in places where large numbers of people tend to congregate, leaving cities with high concentrations of colleges, correctional facilities, and nursing homes particularly at risk.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Reading metropolitan area has reported 48,630 confirmed cases, or 11,633.3 per 100,000 residents — the most of any city in Pennsylvania.

Lebanon, the city with the second most cases per capita, has reported 11,623.9 cases per 100,000 residents.

The coronavirus crisis has led to widespread unemployment across the country as consumer-facing businesses are forced to close and customers are encouraged to stay home. Unemployment in Reading peaked at 17.2% in April 2020, and is now at 6.3% as of May 2021.

To determine the metropolitan area in each state with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metropolitan areas according to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of July 27. Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan area level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

These are all the counties in Pennsylvania where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).