Special Report
States With the Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases
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The U.S. surpassed 1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases on April 27, by far the most of any country and accounting for about a third of all cases worldwide. There have been more than 56,000 deaths related to the disease. The coronavirus has spread at a widely different rate and pace from state to state. New York has the highest reported rate of confirmed cases, at nearly 1,500 per 100,000 residents — over 35 times the rate of the state with the lowest rate.
To determine the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths as reported by local and state government health agencies. We calculated the confirmed cases and deaths for every 100,000 state residents using one-year population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. The number of cases per capita appears closely related to testing rates and population density as well as how early a state reported its first case. We included this information for every state.
The states testing larger shares of their populations are reporting higher confirmed cases per 100,000 residents. Eight of the 10 states with the most COVID-19 cases per capita have been testing at higher rates than the U.S. average of 17.4 tests per 1,000 people.
The end of April marks a shift in the way some parts of the country are handling the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 28, nine states have begun to partially reopen their economies, allowing barber shops, tattoo parlors, and other businesses to operate. On April 30, seven other states are set to let their stay-at-home orders lapse. This is every state’s rules for staying at home and social distancing.
Epidemiologists and the White House have cautioned that easing social distancing restrictions could lead to a resurgence of cases, especially when combined with a relatively low testing rate. Just under 5.7 million Americans have been tested, or 1.7% of the nation’s total population. These are the states where the virus is spreading the fastest.
Click here to see the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases
Click here to read our detailed findings and methodology
50. Montana
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 42.5 per 100,000 (total: 451)
> Rank on April 21: 5th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.4 per 100,000 — 6th lowest (total: 15)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.4 per 1,000 people –16th lowest (total: 13,191)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 3.4% — 4th lowest
> Date of first case: March 13
> Population density: 7.2 people per sq. mi. — 3rd lowest
> Total population: 1,062,305
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49. Hawaii
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 42.7 per 100,000 (total: 607)
> Rank on April 21: 2nd lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.1 per 100,000 — the lowest (total: 16)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 20.7 per 1,000 people –17th highest (total: 29,422)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 2.9% — 3rd lowest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 129.9 people per sq. mi. — 20th highest
> Total population: 1,420,491
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48. Alaska
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 46.8 per 100,000 (total: 345)
> Rank on April 21: 6th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.2 per 100,000 — 3rd lowest (total: 9)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 22.0 per 1,000 people –14th highest (total: 16,256)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 2.1% — the lowest
> Date of first case: March 12
> Population density: 1.1 people per sq. mi. — the lowest
> Total population: 737,438
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47. Oregon
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 56.2 per 100,000 (total: 2,354)
> Rank on April 21: 11th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 2.2 per 100,000 — 9th lowest (total: 92)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.2 per 1,000 people –14th lowest (total: 51,198)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 4.6% — 8th lowest
> Date of first case: Feb. 28
> Population density: 42.6 people per sq. mi. — 13th lowest
> Total population: 4,190,713
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46. West Virginia
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 59.8 per 100,000 (total: 1,079)
> Rank on April 21: 8th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 2.0 per 100,000 — 8th lowest (total: 37)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 22.4 per 1,000 people –13th highest (total: 40,489)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 2.7% — 2nd lowest
> Date of first case: March 17
> Population density: 74.5 people per sq. mi. — 22nd lowest
> Total population: 1,805,832
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45. Wyoming
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 67.3 per 100,000 (total: 389)
> Rank on April 21: the lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.2 per 100,000 — 2nd lowest (total: 7)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 15.4 per 1,000 people –25th highest (total: 8,880)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 4.6% — 7th lowest
> Date of first case: March 11
> Population density: 5.9 people per sq. mi. — 2nd lowest
> Total population: 577,737
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44. Minnesota
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 74.5 per 100,000 (total: 4,181)
> Rank on April 21: 21st lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 5.4 per 100,000 — 22nd highest (total: 301)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 11.4 per 1,000 people –9th lowest (total: 63,829)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 6.6% — 14th lowest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 64.5 people per sq. mi. — 20th lowest
> Total population: 5,611,179
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43. Maine
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 77.7 per 100,000 (total: 1,040)
> Rank on April 21: 18th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 3.8 per 100,000 — 17th lowest (total: 51)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.3 per 1,000 people –21st lowest (total: 17,824)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 5.8% — 11th lowest
> Date of first case: March 12
> Population density: 37.8 people per sq. mi. — 12th lowest
> Total population: 1,338,404
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42. Oklahoma
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 86.5 per 100,000 (total: 3,410)
> Rank on April 21: 21st highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 5.2 per 100,000 — 23rd highest (total: 207)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 15.2 per 1,000 people –25th lowest (total: 60,037)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 6.2% — 12th lowest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 56.4 people per sq. mi. — 16th lowest
> Total population: 3,943,079
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41. Texas
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 91.2 per 100,000 (total: 26,171)
> Rank on April 21: 12th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 2.4 per 100,000 — 10th lowest (total: 690)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 10.5 per 1,000 people –5th lowest (total: 300,384)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 8.7% — 21st lowest
> Date of first case: Feb. 12
> Population density: 106.9 people per sq. mi. — 22nd highest
> Total population: 28,701,845
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40. North Carolina
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 92.1 per 100,000 (total: 9,568)
> Rank on April 21: 13th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 3.3 per 100,000 — 14th lowest (total: 342)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 10.9 per 1,000 people –7th lowest (total: 112,752)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 8.5% — 18th lowest
> Date of first case: March 3
> Population density: 192.9 people per sq. mi. — 14th highest
> Total population: 10,383,620
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39. Kentucky
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 92.8 per 100,000 (total: 4,146)
> Rank on April 21: 25th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.8 per 100,000 — 24th lowest (total: 213)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 10.9 per 1,000 people –8th lowest (total: 48,799)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 8.5% — 19th lowest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 110.6 people per sq. mi. — 21st highest
> Total population: 4,468,402
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38. Arizona
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 96.9 per 100,000 (total: 6,948)
> Rank on April 21: 16th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.1 per 100,000 — 18th lowest (total: 293)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.4 per 1,000 people –the lowest (total: 67,438)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 8.7% — 20th lowest
> Date of first case: Jan. 26
> Population density: 62.9 people per sq. mi. — 19th lowest
> Total population: 7,171,646
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37. Arkansas
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 101.8 per 100,000 (total: 3,069)
> Rank on April 21: 7th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.7 per 100,000 — 7th lowest (total: 51)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.5 per 1,000 people –22nd lowest (total: 40,629)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 7.6% — 15th lowest
> Date of first case: March 11
> Population density: 56.7 people per sq. mi. — 17th lowest
> Total population: 3,013,825
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36. Wisconsin
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 104.6 per 100,000 (total: 6,081)
> Rank on April 21: 20th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.8 per 100,000 — 25th lowest (total: 281)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 11.6 per 1,000 people –11th lowest (total: 67,392)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.0% — 23rd lowest
> Date of first case: Feb. 5
> Population density: 88.8 people per sq. mi. — 24th lowest
> Total population: 5,813,568
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35. Idaho
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 109.3 per 100,000 (total: 1,917)
> Rank on April 21: 19th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 3.3 per 100,000 — 15th lowest (total: 58)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 11.4 per 1,000 people –10th lowest (total: 20,052)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.6% — 25th lowest
> Date of first case: March 13
> Population density: 21.0 people per sq. mi. — 7th lowest
> Total population: 1,754,208
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34. South Carolina
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 110.4 per 100,000 (total: 5,613)
> Rank on April 21: 15th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 3.5 per 100,000 — 16th lowest (total: 177)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 10.3 per 1,000 people –4th lowest (total: 52,145)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 10.8% — 22nd highest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 158.8 people per sq. mi. — 18th highest
> Total population: 5,084,127
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33. California
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 114.3 per 100,000 (total: 45,218)
> Rank on April 21: 24th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.5 per 100,000 — 22nd lowest (total: 1,793)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 14.6 per 1,000 people –23rd lowest (total: 577,608)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 7.8% — 17th lowest
> Date of first case: Jan. 25
> Population density: 241.7 people per sq. mi. — 11th highest
> Total population: 39,557,045
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32. Missouri
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 117.0 per 100,000 (total: 7,171)
> Rank on April 21: 22nd lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.7 per 100,000 — 23rd lowest (total: 288)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.0 per 1,000 people –13th lowest (total: 73,371)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.8% — 24th highest
> Date of first case: March 7
> Population density: 87.9 people per sq. mi. — 23rd lowest
> Total population: 6,126,452
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31. Kansas
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 119.9 per 100,000 (total: 3,491)
> Rank on April 21: 23rd highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.3 per 100,000 — 19th lowest (total: 124)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.6 per 1,000 people –2nd lowest (total: 28,090)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.4% — 20th highest
> Date of first case: March 7
> Population density: 35.4 people per sq. mi. — 10th lowest
> Total population: 2,911,510
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30. North Dakota
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 130.4 per 100,000 (total: 991)
> Rank on April 21: 9th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 2.5 per 100,000 — 11th lowest (total: 19)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 31.2 per 1,000 people –6th highest (total: 23,723)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 4.2% — 5th lowest
> Date of first case: March 11
> Population density: 10.8 people per sq. mi. — 4th lowest
> Total population: 760,077
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29. Utah
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 133.9 per 100,000 (total: 4,233)
> Rank on April 21: 3rd lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.3 per 100,000 — 5th lowest (total: 41)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 31.7 per 1,000 people –4th highest (total: 100,195)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 4.2% — 6th lowest
> Date of first case: Feb. 25
> Population density: 37.2 people per sq. mi. — 11th lowest
> Total population: 3,161,105
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28. New Mexico
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 134.7 per 100,000 (total: 2,823)
> Rank on April 21: 20th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 5.0 per 100,000 — 24th highest (total: 104)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 28.1 per 1,000 people –7th highest (total: 58,803)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 4.8% — 9th lowest
> Date of first case: March 11
> Population density: 17.2 people per sq. mi. — 6th lowest
> Total population: 2,095,428
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27. Alabama
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 135.9 per 100,000 (total: 6,644)
> Rank on April 21: 24th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 5.0 per 100,000 — 25th highest (total: 242)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 15.4 per 1,000 people –24th highest (total: 75,138)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 8.8% — 22nd lowest
> Date of first case: March 13
> Population density: 93.2 people per sq. mi. — 25th highest
> Total population: 4,887,871
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26. Vermont
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 137.6 per 100,000 (total: 862)
> Rank on April 21: 16th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 7.5 per 100,000 — 17th highest (total: 47)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 24.3 per 1,000 people –9th highest (total: 15,215)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 5.7% — 10th lowest
> Date of first case: March 7
> Population density: 65.1 people per sq. mi. — 21st lowest
> Total population: 626,299
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25. Ohio
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 139.7 per 100,000 (total: 16,325)
> Rank on April 21: 19th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 6.4 per 100,000 — 19th highest (total: 753)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 10.5 per 1,000 people –6th lowest (total: 122,706)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.1% — 19th highest
> Date of first case: March 9
> Population density: 260.8 people per sq. mi. — 10th highest
> Total population: 11,689,442
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24. New Hampshire
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 142.9 per 100,000 (total: 1,938)
> Rank on April 21: 23rd lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.4 per 100,000 — 21st lowest (total: 60)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 14.9 per 1,000 people –24th lowest (total: 20,145)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.6% — 25th highest
> Date of first case: March 2
> Population density: 145.1 people per sq. mi. — 19th highest
> Total population: 1,356,458
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23. Tennessee
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 146.5 per 100,000 (total: 9,918)
> Rank on April 21: 14th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 2.7 per 100,000 — 12th lowest (total: 184)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 22.8 per 1,000 people –12th highest (total: 154,402)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 6.4% — 13th lowest
> Date of first case: March 5
> Population density: 160.6 people per sq. mi. — 17th highest
> Total population: 6,770,010
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22. Florida
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 154.2 per 100,000 (total: 32,846)
> Rank on April 21: 22nd highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 5.5 per 100,000 — 21st highest (total: 1,171)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 17.3 per 1,000 people — 21st highest (total: 368,651)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.4% — 24th lowest
> Date of first case: March 1
> Population density: 323.9 people per sq. mi. — 8th highest
> Total population: 21,299,325
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21. Nevada
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 158.4 per 100,000 (total: 4,805)
> Rank on April 21: 18th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 7.2 per 100,000 — 18th highest (total: 219)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.2 per 1,000 people — 19th lowest (total: 40,119)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.0% — 21st highest
> Date of first case: March 5
> Population density: 27.4 people per sq. mi. — 9th lowest
> Total population: 3,034,392
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20. Virginia
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 168.3 per 100,000 (total: 14,339)
> Rank on April 21: 25th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 5.8 per 100,000 — 20th highest (total: 492)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.7 per 1,000 people — 3rd lowest (total: 82,753)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 17.3% — 14th highest
> Date of first case: March 7
> Population density: 199.1 people per sq. mi. — 13th highest
> Total population: 8,517,685
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19. Nebraska
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 174.1 per 100,000 (total: 3,358)
> Rank on April 21: 10th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 2.9 per 100,000 — 13th lowest (total: 55)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.3 per 1,000 people –15th lowest (total: 23,772)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 14.8% — 16th highest
> Date of first case: Feb. 17
> Population density: 24.9 people per sq. mi. — 8th lowest
> Total population: 1,929,268
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18. Washington
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 181.6 per 100,000 (total: 13,686)
> Rank on April 21: 12th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 10.2 per 100,000 — 14th highest (total: 765)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 23.8 per 1,000 people –10th highest (total: 179,679)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 7.6% — 16th lowest
> Date of first case: Jan. 21
> Population density: 105.7 people per sq. mi. — 23rd highest
> Total population: 7,535,591
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17. Iowa
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 202.0 per 100,000 (total: 6,376)
> Rank on April 21: 17th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 4.3 per 100,000 — 20th lowest (total: 136)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 12.6 per 1,000 people –17th lowest (total: 39,823)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 16.0% — 15th highest
> Date of first case: March 8
> Population density: 56.1 people per sq. mi. — 15th lowest
> Total population: 3,156,145
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16. Mississippi
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 212.4 per 100,000 (total: 6,342)
> Rank on April 21: 17th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 8.0 per 100,000 — 16th highest (total: 239)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 21.6 per 1,000 people –16th highest (total: 64,412)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 9.8% — 23rd highest
> Date of first case: March 11
> Population density: 61.7 people per sq. mi. — 18th lowest
> Total population: 2,986,530
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15. Georgia
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 233.7 per 100,000 (total: 24,579)
> Rank on April 21: 15th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 9.7 per 100,000 — 15th highest (total: 1,022)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.3 per 1,000 people –20th lowest (total: 140,020)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 17.6% — 13th highest
> Date of first case: March 2
> Population density: 177.0 people per sq. mi. — 16th highest
> Total population: 10,519,475
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14. Colorado
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 243.7 per 100,000 (total: 13,879)
> Rank on April 21: 14th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 12.4 per 100,000 — 13th highest (total: 706)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 11.6 per 1,000 people –12th lowest (total: 66,341)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 20.9% — 7th highest
> Date of first case: March 5
> Population density: 54.7 people per sq. mi. — 14th lowest
> Total population: 5,695,564
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13. Indiana
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 247.9 per 100,000 (total: 16,588)
> Rank on April 21: 11th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 13.5 per 100,000 — 11th highest (total: 901)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.0 per 1,000 people –18th lowest (total: 87,181)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 19.0% — 10th highest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 183.7 people per sq. mi. — 15th highest
> Total population: 6,691,878
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12. South Dakota
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 262.2 per 100,000 (total: 2,313)
> Rank on April 21: 4th lowest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 1.2 per 100,000 — 4th lowest (total: 11)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 18.8 per 1,000 people –18th highest (total: 16,612)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.9% — 17th highest
> Date of first case: March 10
> Population density: 11.4 people per sq. mi. — 5th lowest
> Total population: 882,235
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11. Maryland
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 332.8 per 100,000 (total: 20,113)
> Rank on April 21: 10th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 15.4 per 100,000 — 9th highest (total: 929)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 17.8 per 1,000 people –20th highest (total: 107,785)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 18.7% — 11th highest
> Date of first case: March 5
> Population density: 487.1 people per sq. mi. — 5th highest
> Total population: 6,042,718
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10. Pennsylvania
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 337.8 per 100,000 (total: 43,264)
> Rank on April 21: 8th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 13.4 per 100,000 — 12th highest (total: 1,716)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 16.3 per 1,000 people –23rd highest (total: 209,088)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 20.7% — 8th highest
> Date of first case: March 6
> Population density: 278.1 people per sq. mi. — 9th highest
> Total population: 12,807,060
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9. Illinois
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 360.1 per 100,000 (total: 45,883)
> Rank on April 21: 9th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 15.6 per 100,000 — 8th highest (total: 1,983)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 17.9 per 1,000 people –19th highest (total: 227,628)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 20.2% — 9th highest
> Date of first case: Jan. 24
> Population density: 220.0 people per sq. mi. — 12th highest
> Total population: 12,741,080
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in Illinois
8. Michigan
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 382.3 per 100,000 (total: 38,210)
> Rank on April 21: 6th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 34.1 per 100,000 — 6th highest (total: 3,407)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 16.3 per 1,000 people –22nd highest (total: 163,213)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 26.8% — 4th highest
> Date of first case: March 10
> Population density: 103.4 people per sq. mi. — 24th highest
> Total population: 9,995,915
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in Michigan
7. Delaware
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 473.0 per 100,000 (total: 4,575)
> Rank on April 21: 13th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 14.2 per 100,000 — 10th highest (total: 137)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 21.9 per 1,000 people –15th highest (total: 21,180)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 21.6% — 6th highest
> Date of first case: March 11
> Population density: 388.6 people per sq. mi. — 6th highest
> Total population: 967,171
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6. Louisiana
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 580.9 per 100,000 (total: 27,068)
> Rank on April 21: 4th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 36.4 per 100,000 — 5th highest (total: 1,697)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 31.5 per 1,000 people –5th highest (total: 146,989)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 18.4% — 12th highest
> Date of first case: March 9
> Population density: 89.0 people per sq. mi. — 25th lowest
> Total population: 4,659,978
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in Louisiana
5. Connecticut
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 727.7 per 100,000 (total: 25,997)
> Rank on April 21: 3rd highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 56.3 per 100,000 — 3rd highest (total: 2,012)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 25.4 per 1,000 people –8th highest (total: 90,746)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 28.6% — 3rd highest
> Date of first case: March 8
> Population density: 644.5 people per sq. mi. — 4th highest
> Total population: 3,572,665
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4. Rhode Island
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 749.6 per 100,000 (total: 7,926)
> Rank on April 21: 7th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 22.6 per 100,000 — 7th highest (total: 239)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 54.6 per 1,000 people –the highest (total: 57,693)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 13.7% — 18th highest
> Date of first case: March 1
> Population density: 684.3 people per sq. mi. — 2nd highest
> Total population: 1,057,315
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in Rhode Island
3. Massachusetts
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 818.0 per 100,000 (total: 56,462)
> Rank on April 21: 5th highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 43.5 per 100,000 — 4th highest (total: 3,003)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 35.5 per 1,000 people –3rd highest (total: 244,887)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 23.1% — 5th highest
> Date of first case: Feb. 1
> Population density: 654.0 people per sq. mi. — 3rd highest
> Total population: 6,902,149
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in Massachusetts
2. New Jersey
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 1,248.1 per 100,000 (total: 111,188)
> Rank on April 21: 2nd highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 67.8 per 100,000 — 2nd highest (total: 6,044)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 23.0 per 1,000 people –11th highest (total: 204,651)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 43.0% — the highest
> Date of first case: March 4
> Population density: 1,021.3 people per sq. mi. — the highest
> Total population: 8,908,520
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in New Jersey
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1. New York
> COVID-19 confirmed cases as of 4/28/2020: 1,494.2 per 100,000 (total: 291,996)
> Rank on April 21: the highest
> COVID-19 related deaths as of 4/28/2020: 88.5 per 100,000 — the highest (total: 17,303)
> Total testing rate as of 4/28/2020: 42.3 per 1,000 people — 2nd highest (total: 826,095)
> Positive test rate as of 4/28/2020: 35.3% — 2nd highest
> Date of first case: March 1
> Population density: 358.2 people per sq. mi. — 7th highest
> Total population: 19,542,209
See all stories featuring: Coronavirus in New York
Detailed Findings
In the absence of a vaccine, social distancing is considered the best available means to slow the spread of an infectious disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from one another, not gather in groups, and stay out of crowded places.
In the study, “Social Distancing to Slow the U.S. COVID-19 Epidemic: an Interrupted Time-Series Analysis,” a preprint of non-peer reviewed study published by Harvard infectious disease experts on April 8, statewide social distancing measures were associated with a decrease in U.S. COVID-19 epidemic growth.
“Based on the size of the epidemic at the time of implementation in each state, social distancing measures were associated with a decrease of 3,090 cases at 7 days, and 68,255 cases at 14 days, after implementation.”
Methodology
To determine the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths using data collected from local and state government health agencies. To compare states, we calculated the confirmed case and death counts for every 100,000 state residents using one-year population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey.
Test data was also collected by 24/7 Wall St. from local and state government health agencies. To compare state testing, we calculated total tests completed per 1,000 people in every state as well as the positive test rate. COVID-19 test statistics are for the most recent day for which data is available — 4/28.
Population density statistics were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 decennial census.
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