Special Report
Cities Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest
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The number of diagnosed COVID-19 cases in the United States now exceeds 1.7 million, with more than 100,000 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. Here are the counties with the highest number of COVID-19 cases as of May 28.
Despite the downward trend in daily new cases, the coronavirus continues to infect thousands of Americans every day. And with most 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. To assess the cities where COVID-19 is currently spreading the fastest 24/7 Wall St. calculated the average number of daily new cases per capita over the week ending on May 27. This is a comparison of the current situation between cities rather than comparing the progression of local outbreaks over time.
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. Per capita, however, New York is faring better than other cities in how fast the coronavirus is spreading. In other cities, though they may have fewer new daily cases than other major cities, the number of new cases is climbing, and the per capita weekly average suggests a fast spread.
While the number of new cases per day is declining across the country, 221 of the nation’s 386 U.S. metro areas reported higher numbers of daily new cases in the past week than the week prior. The Sioux City, Iowa, metro area, reported fewer average new daily cases compared to last week, but the city still has the fastest growing number of diagnosed cases per capita of any U.S. metro area. With just over 3,000 cases per 100,000 people as of May 27, it is also the metro area with the highest per capita confirmed COVID-19 cases. These are the cities with the most COVID-19 cases.
With limited understanding of the novel coronavirus, there are varied positions even among public health experts on how to interpret the statistics that are being produced and updated by the hour. In an interview with 24/7 Wall St., epidemiologist Mark Seidner, who is an associate professor at Harvard Medical School, said, “Most [public health experts] will say there is a massive under reporting in cases, partially because of the testing problem, partially because many people are asymptomatic.”
“That is why the antibody tests are supposed to help,” he explained. “[T]hey’re supposed to find those asymptomatic to the disease who never got tested.”
Click here to see the cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest
24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths for the seven days through May 27 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 21 and May 27 for every 100,000 people.
35. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 7,697 or 488 per 100,000 people — 72nd highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 6,385 to 7,697
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 17
> Total population: 1,576,113
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34. Tuscaloosa, AL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 960 or 384 per 100,000 people — 100 highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 729 to 960
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 6
> Total population: 244,895
33. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 64,808 or 680 per 100,000 people — 50th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 58,004 to 64,808
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 228
> Total population: 9,497,790
32. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 13
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 17,593 or 630 per 100,000 people — 55th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 15,765 to 17,593
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 99
> Total population: 2,802,789
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31. Kankakee, IL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 14
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 808 or 728 per 100,000 people — 48th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 709 to 808
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 3
> Total population: 110,024
30. Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 14,465 or 408 per 100,000 people — 90th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 11,326 to 14,465
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 110
> Total population: 3,629,190
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29. Sherman-Denison, TX
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 310 or 241 per 100,000 people — 167th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 268 to 310
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 1
> Total population: 133,991
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28. Monroe, LA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,574 or 770 per 100,000 people — 38th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,427 to 1,574
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 4
> Total population: 176,805
27. Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 11,838 or 979 per 100,000 people — 25th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 11,058 to 11,838
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 85
> Total population: 1,206,300
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26. Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 4,441 or 481 per 100,000 people — 75th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 3,494 to 4,441
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 11
> Total population: 941,924
25. Pine Bluff, AR
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,503 or 1,628 per 100,000 people — 7th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,483 to 1,503
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 1
> Total population: 90,306
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24. Alexandria, LA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 707 or 459 per 100,000 people — 79th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 617 to 707
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 7
> Total population: 153,044
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23. Flagstaff, AZ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 15
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,066 or 760 per 100,000 people — 41st highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 972 to 1,066
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 6
> Total population: 142,854
22. Harrisonburg, VA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 16
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,229 or 925 per 100,000 people — 28th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,129 to 1,229
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: none
> Total population: 135,277
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21. Salisbury, MD-DE
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 17
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 5,316 or 1,332 per 100,000 people — 13th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 5,102 to 5,316
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Total population: 409,979
20. St. Cloud, MN
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 2,153 or 1,095 per 100,000 people — 21st highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 2,005 to 2,153
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 1
> Total population: 199,801
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19. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 5,152 or 768 per 100,000 people — 39th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 4,554 to 5,152
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 30
> Total population: 655,409
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18. Goldsboro, NC
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,045 or 843 per 100,000 people — 32nd highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 910 to 1,045
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 3
> Total population: 123,248
17. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 3,070 or 764 per 100,000 people — 40th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 2,881 to 3,070
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 25
> Total population: 436,341
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16. Worcester, MA-CT
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 11,018 or 1,174 per 100,000 people — 19th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 10,333 to 11,018
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 76
> Total population: 947,866
15. Yuma, AZ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 18
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 782 or 376 per 100,000 people — 105th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 475 to 782
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 4
> Total population: 212,128
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14. Amarillo, TX
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 19
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 2,914 or 1,106 per 100,000 people — 20th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 2,832 to 2,914
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 3
> Total population: 268,356
13. Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 20
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 19,636 or 1,215 per 100,000 people — 17th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 18,304 to 19,636
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 45
> Total population: 1,621,337
12. Rockford, IL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 2,411 or 710 per 100,000 people — 49th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 2,024 to 2,411
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 9
> Total population: 337,658
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11. Elkhart-Goshen, IN
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,070 or 526 per 100,000 people — 67th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 844 to 1,070
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 1
> Total population: 205,560
10. Montgomery, AL
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 21
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 2,154 or 577 per 100,000 people — 60th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,563 to 2,154
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 6
> Total population: 373,401
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9. Trenton-Princeton, NJ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 22
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 6,592 or 1,788 per 100,000 people — 5th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 6,205 to 6,592
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 20
> Total population: 369,811
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8. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 22
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 61,334 or 997 per 100,000 people — 24th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 53,787 to 61,334
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 268
> Total population: 6,251,240
7. Farmington, NM
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 24
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,642 or 1,288 per 100,000 people — 15th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,451 to 1,642
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 14
> Total population: 125,043
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6. Racine, WI
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 26
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,579 or 808 per 100,000 people — 34th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,166 to 1,579
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 8
> Total population: 196,584
5. Fargo, ND-MN
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 27
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 2,002 or 845 per 100,000 people — 31st highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,714 to 2,002
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 48
> Total population: 245,471
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4. Yakima, WA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 31
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 3,008 or 1,206 per 100,000 people — 18th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 2,518 to 3,008
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 9
> Total population: 251,446
3. Vineland-Bridgeton, NJ
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 31
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 2,098 or 1,368 per 100,000 people — 12th highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,869 to 2,098
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 5
> Total population: 150,972
2. El Centro, CA
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 39
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 1,369 or 760 per 100,000 people — 42nd highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 1,096 to 1,369
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 3
> Total population: 181,827
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1. Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
> Avg. new daily cases per 100,000 in 7 days ending May 27: 47
> Confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 19: 4,401 or 3,064 per 100,000 people — the highest out of 384 MSAs
> Chg. in confirmed COVID-19 cases, May 21 to May 27: 3,997 to 4,401
> COVID-19 related deaths in 7 days ending May 27: 11
> Total population: 169,354
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