Special Report
States With the Highest Number of COVID-19 Cases
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There have been over 1.6 million confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus cases in the United States, and the death toll is nearing 100,000. The majority of confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in just six states — New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania.
California makes this list only because of its large population. It is faring better on a per capita basis with 239 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents, less than half the overall U.S. rate. The other five states have very high confirmed cases per 100,000 residents at over 500 cases per 100,000 and several times higher.
24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on confirmed COVID-19 cases as reported by local and state government health agencies as of May 25, 2020, to determine the states with the highest number of cases per capita. We calculated the confirmed cases for every 100,000 people in each state using one-year population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey. Data was as of May 25 for all states except for Connecticut, for which we used data from May 24.
The number of cases per 100,000 residents has increased in every state over the last month, though the rate of increase has been vastly different. Confirmed cases per 100,000 residents increased by just 10% in Hawaii and Montana from April 21 through May 25. Yet in several Midwestern states, cases per 100,000 residents more than quadrupled during that same period — due at least in part to major outbreaks in some of these states’ larger cities. These are the cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest.
To curb the spread of COVID-19, states began implementing social distancing measures and temporarily shutting down nonessential businesses. While these directives undoubtedly saved lives, they came at a great economic cost — about 35 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March. In every state, at least 10% of the labor force has filed for unemployment. These are every state’s unemployment claims since COVID-19 shut down the economy.
Click here to see the states with the highest number of COVID-19 cases
50. Montana
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 45 per 100,000 people (479 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 2 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (16 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,171 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (33,682 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 1.4% — 3rd lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/13/2020
> Total population: 1,062,305
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49. Hawaii
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 45 per 100,000 people (643 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 1 per 100,000 people — the fewest (17 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,546 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (50,371 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 1.3% — 2nd lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 1,420,491
48. Alaska
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 55 per 100,000 people (409 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 1 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (10 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 6,031 per 100,000 people — 11th most (44,472 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 0.9% — the lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/12/2020
> Total population: 737,438
47. Oregon
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 94 per 100,000 people (3,949 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 4 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (148 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,715 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (113,770 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 3.5% — 6th lowest
> Date of first known case: 2/28/2020
> Total population: 4,190,713
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46. West Virginia
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 98 per 100,000 people (1,774 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 4 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (72 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,780 per 100,000 people — 16th most (86,325 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 2.1% — 4th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/17/2020
> Total population: 1,805,832
45. Wyoming
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 145 per 100,000 people (838 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 2 per 100,000 people — 4th fewest (12 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,393 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (19,601 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 4.3% — 10th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/11/2020
> Total population: 577,737
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44. Idaho
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 150 per 100,000 people (2,626 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 5 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (79 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,347 per 100,000 people — the fewest (41,167 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 6.4% — 21st lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/13/2020
> Total population: 1,754,208
43. Vermont
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 154 per 100,000 people (962 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 9 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest (54 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,737 per 100,000 people — 17th most (29,669 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 3.2% — 5th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/7/2020
> Total population: 626,299
42. Oklahoma
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 154 per 100,000 people (6,090 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 8 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest (313 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,081 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest (160,903 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 3.8% — 8th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 3,943,079
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41. Maine
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 155 per 100,000 people (2,074 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 6 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (78 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,819 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (37,725 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 5.5% — 15th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/12/2020
> Total population: 1,338,404
40. Kentucky
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 192 per 100,000 people (8,571 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 9 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest (391 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,799 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest (169,736 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 5.0% — 12th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 4,468,402
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39. Texas
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 195 per 100,000 people (55,971 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 5 per 100,000 people — 11th fewest (1,527 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,807 per 100,000 people — 6th fewest (805,654 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 6.9% — 23rd lowest
> Date of first known case: 2/12/2020
> Total population: 28,701,845
38. Missouri
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 199 per 100,000 people (12,167 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 11 per 100,000 people — 25th fewest (685 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,569 per 100,000 people — 2nd fewest (157,385 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 7.7% — 24th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/7/2020
> Total population: 6,126,452
37. Arkansas
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 200 per 100,000 people (6,029 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 4 per 100,000 people — 7th fewest (117 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,704 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest (111,622 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 5.4% — 14th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/11/2020
> Total population: 3,013,825
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36. South Carolina
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 200 per 100,000 people (10,178 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 9 per 100,000 people — 20th fewest (440 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,364 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (171,034 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 6.0% — 18th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 5,084,127
35. North Carolina
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 231 per 100,000 people (23,964 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 7 per 100,000 people — 16th fewest (754 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,320 per 100,000 people — 13th fewest (344,690 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 7.0% — 24th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/3/2020
> Total population: 10,383,620
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34. Arizona
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 231 per 100,000 people (16,561 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 11 per 100,000 people — 25th most (806 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,742 per 100,000 people — 21st fewest (268,384 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 6.2% — 20th lowest
> Date of first known case: 1/26/2020
> Total population: 7,171,646
33. California
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 239 per 100,000 people (94,558 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 10 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest (3,795 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,156 per 100,000 people — 24th most (1,644,102 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 5.8% — 17th lowest
> Date of first known case: 1/25/2020
> Total population: 39,557,045
32. Florida
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 243 per 100,000 people (51,746 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 11 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest (2,252 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,272 per 100,000 people — 22nd most (909,928 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 5.7% — 16th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/1/2020
> Total population: 21,299,325
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31. Nevada
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 248 per 100,000 people (7,526 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 13 per 100,000 people — 23rd most (387 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,298 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (100,066 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 7.5% — 25th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/5/2020
> Total population: 3,034,392
30. Washington
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 266 per 100,000 people (20,065 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 14 per 100,000 people — 21st most (1,070 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,387 per 100,000 people — 21st most (330,598 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 6.1% — 19th lowest
> Date of first known case: 1/21/2020
> Total population: 7,535,591
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29. Wisconsin
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 268 per 100,000 people (15,584 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 9 per 100,000 people — 22nd fewest (514 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,594 per 100,000 people — 18th fewest (208,963 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 7.5% — 25th lowest
> Date of first known case: 2/5/2020
> Total population: 5,813,568
28. Utah
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 270 per 100,000 people (8,521 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 3 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (98 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 6,215 per 100,000 people — 8th most (196,468 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 4.3% — 11th lowest
> Date of first known case: 2/25/2020
> Total population: 3,161,105
27. Ohio
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 278 per 100,000 people (32,477 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 17 per 100,000 people — 16th most (1,987 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,826 per 100,000 people — 8th fewest (330,334 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 9.8% — 20th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/9/2020
> Total population: 11,689,442
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26. Tennessee
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 298 per 100,000 people (20,145 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 5 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (336 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 5,666 per 100,000 people — 12th most (383,576 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 5.3% — 13th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/5/2020
> Total population: 6,770,010
25. Alabama
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 307 per 100,000 people (14,986 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 12 per 100,000 people — 24th most (566 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,938 per 100,000 people — 23rd fewest (192,484 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 7.8% — 23rd highest
> Date of first known case: 3/13/2020
> Total population: 4,887,871
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24. New Hampshire
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 309 per 100,000 people (4,197 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 15 per 100,000 people — 18th most (210 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,647 per 100,000 people — 19th most (63,039 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 6.7% — 22nd lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/2/2020
> Total population: 1,356,458
23. Kansas
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 317 per 100,000 people (9,218 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 6 per 100,000 people — 14th fewest (188 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,796 per 100,000 people — 5th fewest (81,399 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 11.3% — 17th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/7/2020
> Total population: 2,911,510
22. North Dakota
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 323 per 100,000 people (2,457 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 7 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (54 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 8,729 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (66,350 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 3.7% — 7th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/11/2020
> Total population: 760,077
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21. New Mexico
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 335 per 100,000 people (7,026 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 15 per 100,000 people — 19th most (320 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 8,464 per 100,000 people — 4th most (177,361 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 4.0% — 9th lowest
> Date of first known case: 3/11/2020
> Total population: 2,095,428
20. Minnesota
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 380 per 100,000 people (21,315 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 16 per 100,000 people — 17th most (881 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,637 per 100,000 people — 19th fewest (204,059 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 10.4% — 19th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 5,611,179
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19. Georgia
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 412 per 100,000 people (43,362 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 17 per 100,000 people — 15th most (1,830 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,882 per 100,000 people — 14th most (513,545 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 8.4% — 22nd highest
> Date of first known case: 3/2/2020
> Total population: 10,519,475
18. Virginia
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 421 per 100,000 people (35,890 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 14 per 100,000 people — 22nd most (1,158 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,016 per 100,000 people — 9th fewest (256,913 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 14.0% — 12th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/7/2020
> Total population: 8,517,685
17. Colorado
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 424 per 100,000 people (24,174 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 23 per 100,000 people — 13th most (1,332 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 2,639 per 100,000 people — 3rd fewest (150,308 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 16.1% — 8th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/5/2020
> Total population: 5,695,564
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16. Mississippi
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 451 per 100,000 people (13,458 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 21 per 100,000 people — 14th most (635 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,819 per 100,000 people — 15th most (143,917 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 9.4% — 21st highest
> Date of first known case: 3/11/2020
> Total population: 2,986,530
15. Indiana
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 474 per 100,000 people (31,715 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 27 per 100,000 people — 12th most (1,832 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,381 per 100,000 people — 15th fewest (226,251 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 14.0% — 10th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 6,691,878
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14. South Dakota
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 520 per 100,000 people (4,586 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 6 per 100,000 people — 12th fewest (50 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,999 per 100,000 people — 24th fewest (35,283 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 13.0% — 14th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/10/2020
> Total population: 882,235
13. Pennsylvania
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 532 per 100,000 people (68,186 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 40 per 100,000 people — 8th most (5,139 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 3,148 per 100,000 people — 10th fewest (403,114 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 16.9% — 6th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/6/2020
> Total population: 12,807,060
12. Michigan
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 547 per 100,000 people (54,679 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 52 per 100,000 people — 7th most (5,228 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,701 per 100,000 people — 18th most (469,915 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 11.6% — 15th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/10/2020
> Total population: 9,995,915
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11. Iowa
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 556 per 100,000 people (17,557 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 14 per 100,000 people — 20th most (456 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,203 per 100,000 people — 23rd most (132,655 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 13.2% — 13th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/8/2020
> Total population: 3,156,145
10. Nebraska
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 640 per 100,000 people (12,355 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 8 per 100,000 people — 17th fewest (150 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,579 per 100,000 people — 20th most (88,350 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 14.0% — 11th highest
> Date of first known case: 2/17/2020
> Total population: 1,929,268
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9. Maryland
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 780 per 100,000 people (47,152 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 38 per 100,000 people — 10th most (2,302 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 4,130 per 100,000 people — 25th most (249,577 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 18.9% — 3rd highest
> Date of first known case: 3/5/2020
> Total population: 6,042,718
8. Louisiana
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 811 per 100,000 people (37,809 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 55 per 100,000 people — 6th most (2,585 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 7,101 per 100,000 people — 6th most (330,898 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 11.4% — 16th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/9/2020
> Total population: 4,659,978
7. Illinois
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 879 per 100,000 people (112,017 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 38 per 100,000 people — 9th most (4,884 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 6,040 per 100,000 people — 10th most (769,564 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 14.6% — 9th highest
> Date of first known case: 1/24/2020
> Total population: 12,741,080
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6. Delaware
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 927 per 100,000 people (8,965 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 34 per 100,000 people — 11th most (332 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 5,573 per 100,000 people — 13th most (53,896 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 16.6% — 7th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/11/2020
> Total population: 967,171
5. Connecticut
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 24: 1,144 per 100,000 people (40,873 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 24: 105 per 100,000 people — 3rd most (3,742 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 24: 6,206 per 100,000 people — 9th most (221,726 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 18.4% — 4th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/8/2020
> Total population: 3,572,665
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4. Rhode Island
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 1,330 per 100,000 people (14,065 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 58 per 100,000 people — 5th most (608 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 12,551 per 100,000 people — the most (132,701 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 10.6% — 18th highest
> Date of first known case: 3/1/2020
> Total population: 1,057,315
3. Massachusetts
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 1,351 per 100,000 people (93,271 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 93 per 100,000 people — 4th most (6,416 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 7,832 per 100,000 people — 5th most (540,561 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 17.3% — 5th highest
> Date of first known case: 2/1/2020
> Total population: 6,902,149
2. New Jersey
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 1,741 per 100,000 people (155,092 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 125 per 100,000 people — the most (11,144 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 7,002 per 100,000 people — 7th most (623,797 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 24.9% — the highest
> Date of first known case: 3/4/2020
> Total population: 8,908,520
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1. New York
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 25: 1,856 per 100,000 people (362,764 total cases)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of May 25: 120 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (23,488 total deaths)
> Tests completed as of May 25: 8,901 per 100,000 people — 2nd most (1,739,449 total tests)
> Positive test rate: 20.9% — 2nd highest
> Date of first known case: 3/1/2020
> Total population: 19,542,209
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