Special Report
Cities Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest
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Last Updated:
The number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the United States now exceeds 1.5 million, with more than 93,000 reported deaths. By several measures, including the number of active infections and the number of needed hospital beds, the virus appears to have peaked across much of the country. These are the COVID-19 peak dates for every state.
Despite the downward trend in daily new cases, the coronavirus continues to infect thousands of Americans every day. And with a number of states in the process of at least partially reopening their economies, there is much uncertainty about whether there could be a resurgence of the outbreak.
The infection rate and spread of the virus has not been uniform nationwide. In a number of the hardest hit cities where new cases are declining, such as New York City, there are still hundreds of new cases reported daily. In other cities, though they may have fewer new daily cases than other major cities, the number of new cases is climbing.
While the number of new cases per day is declining across the country, there are over 150 U.S. metro areas where the numbers of daily new cases in the past week are higher than the number the week prior. In the Sioux City, Iowa metro area, the average number of new cases reported every day has more than doubled over the past week. That metro area now has the fastest growing number of diagnosed cases per capita of any U.S. metro area. With nearly 4,000 cases as of May 19, it is in the top 50 metro areas with the highest total COVID-19 cases. These are the cities with the most COVID-19 cases.
24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths for the seven days through May 19 from state and local health departments. To determine the cities where the number of confirmed cases per capita is growing the fastest right now, we calculated the average number of new cases per day between May 13 and May 19 for every 100,000 people.
Click here to see cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest
35. Montgomery, AL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 370 per 100,000 people — 81st highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,066 to 1,381
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 8
> Total population: 373,401
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34. Monroe, LA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 638 per 100,000 people — 44th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,175 to 1,304
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 5
> Total population: 176,805
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33. Poughkeepsie-Newburgh-Middletown, NY
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 2,011 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 13,122 to 13,517
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 32
> Total population: .
32. Elkhart-Goshen, IN
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 360 per 100,000 people — 86th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 549 to 733
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 3
> Total population: 205,560
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31. Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 349 per 100,000 people — 90th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 2,121 to 3,222
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 3
> Total population: 941,924
30. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 581 per 100,000 people — 49th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 47,664 to 55,395
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 310
> Total population: 9,497,790
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29. Dover, DE
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 708 per 100,000 people — 35th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,084 to 1,238
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 8
> Total population: 178,550
28. Baton Rouge, LA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 675 per 100,000 people — 38th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 4,855 to 5,752
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 34
> Total population: 831,310
27. Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 684 per 100,000 people — 37th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,584 to 1,838
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 33
> Total population: 265,429
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26. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 16
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,355 per 100,000 people — 10th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 60,421 to 65,218
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 400
> Total population: 4,875,390
25. Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 17
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,538 per 100,000 people — 8th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 13,636 to 14,522
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 92
> Total population: 943,823
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24. Flagstaff, AZ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 17
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 643 per 100,000 people — 43rdhighest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 772 to 901
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 7
> Total population: 142,854
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23. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 17
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 643 per 100,000 people — 42nd highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 3,632 to 4,316
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 26
> Total population: 655,409
22. New Haven-Milford, CT
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 17
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,213 per 100,000 people — 13th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 9,570 to 10,427
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 93
> Total population: 857,620
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21. El Centro, CA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 562 per 100,000 people — 52nd highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 603 to 1,012
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 5
> Total population: 181,827
20. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 19
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 890 per 100,000 people — 26th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 9,129 to 10,767
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 147
> Total population: 1,206,300
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19. Kankakee, IL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 20
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 624 per 100,000 people — 47th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 607 to 693
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 3
> Total population: 110,024
18. Grand Island, NE
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,985 per 100,000 people — 4th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,431 to 1,500
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 3
> Total population: 85,104
17. Racine, WI
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 543 per 100,000 people — 56th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 785 to 1,061
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 2
> Total population: 196,584
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16. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 829 per 100,000 people — 29th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 42,466 to 50,967
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 260
> Total population: 6,251,240
15. Bowling Green, KY
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 22
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 660 per 100,000 people — 40th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 912 to 1,136
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 5
> Total population: 177,183
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14. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 22
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,632 per 100,000 people — 5th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 5,499 to 6,018
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 62
> Total population: 369,811
13. Fargo, ND-MN
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 22
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 653 per 100,000 people — 41st highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,189 to 1,547
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 4
> Total population: 245,471
12. Worcester, MA-CT
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 23
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,055 per 100,000 people — 17th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 8,528 to 9,908
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 113
> Total population: 947,866
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11. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 24
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,044 per 100,000 people — 19th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 16,038 to 16,869
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 42
> Total population: 1,621,337
10. Sioux Falls, SD
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 25
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,321 per 100,000 people — 11th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 3,233 to 3,375
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 5
> Total population: 266,100
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9. Rockford, IL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 27
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 553 per 100,000 people — 54th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,461 to 1,878
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 8
> Total population: 337,658
8. Yakima, WA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 29
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 951 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,946 to 2,370
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 7
> Total population: 251,446
7. St. Cloud, MN
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 30
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 979 per 100,000 people — 21st highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,612 to 1,924
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 4
> Total population: 199,801
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6. Pine Bluff, AR
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 31
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,602 per 100,000 people — 7th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,237 to 1,479
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 2
> Total population: 90,306
5. Farmington, NM
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 32
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,105 per 100,000 people — 16th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,203 to 1,408
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 12
> Total population: 125,043
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4. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 33
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,147 per 100,000 people — 14th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,447 to 1,759
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 13
> Total population: 150,972
3. Salisbury, MD-DE
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 33
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,245 per 100,000 people — 12th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 4,250 to 4,969
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 23
> Total population: 409,979
2. Amarillo, TX
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 49
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 1,050 per 100,000 people — 18th highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 1,748 to 2,766
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 8
> Total population: 268,356
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1. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 19: 73
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19, 2020: 2,720 per 100,000 people — the highest
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 13 to May 19: 3,511 to 3,907
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 19: 5
> Total population: 169,354
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