The U.S. has reported more than 81.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 17. More than 992,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 — the highest death toll of any country.
Nationwide, there were an average of 24.3 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending May 17. Cumulatively, the U.S. has reported 24,885.1 cases per 100,000 Americans, and 302.3 deaths per 100,000 Americans.
In West Virginia, there were an average of 18.1 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week ending May 17. Cumulatively, West Virginia has reported 28,208.0 cases per 100,000 state residents, the eighth most of all 50 states. West Virginia has reported 384.6 deaths per 100,000, the fourth 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 Beckley metropolitan area has reported 36,311 confirmed cases, or 30,557.6 per 100,000 residents — the most of any city in West Virginia.
Huntington-Ashland, the city with the second most cases per capita, has reported 30,389.0 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 Beckley peaked at 18.4% in April 2020, and is now at 4.3% as of November 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 May 17. 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.
| MSA | Population | Total cases | Cases per 100,000 | Total deaths | Deaths per 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 118,828 | 36,311 | 30,557.6 | 554 | 466.2 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 361,832 | 109,957 | 30,389.0 | 1,363 | 376.7 |
| Charleston, WV | 264,113 | 69,282 | 26,232.0 | 1,054 | 399.1 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 90,758 | 23,767 | 26,187.2 | 371 | 408.8 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 141,475 | 36,225 | 25,605.2 | 631 | 446.0 |
| Morgantown, WV | 139,157 | 34,459 | 24,762.7 | 333 | 239.3 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 118,213 | 26,791 | 22,663.3 | 568 | 480.5 |
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