Special Report

Cities Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest

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Michael B. Sauter
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The nationwide surge in COVID-19 cases that began in early June appears to be finally slowing down. On Aug. 3, the number of new daily reported cases fell below 50,000 for the first time in nearly a month. 

After weeks of reporting ever-increasing rates in new infections, many states are finally beginning to see a decline in daily new cases. However, at a more local level, there are still cities where COVID-19 continues to spread at a growing rate, and even some places which only experienced a surge beginning in the last week or two. 

Using data from state and local health departments, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed the average number of new daily confirmed COVID-19 cases for the week ending Aug. 3 and compared it to the average of new daily cases from the previous week to determine the cities where the virus is growing the fastest. For comparison purposes, we adjusted the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 people. We excluded metropolitan areas with fewer than 20 new daily cases as of the most recent week. 

Nationwide, the average number of new daily cases fell slightly, week-over-week, by 1.3 cases per 100,000 people. Average daily cases in the 26 metro areas on this list climbed by at least 5 cases per 100,000 residents this week compared to the previous one, and by as many as 34.

Many of the cities on this list are in states that in the last two months were home to the worst growth in COVID-19 cases in the country, such as Texas, Florida, and South Carolina. While those states reported week-over-week declines in new daily cases per capita, new cases are still surging in these cities. These are the states where the virus is growing the fastest.

Click here to see the cities where COVID-19 is growing the fastest

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26. Peoria, IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 13 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 8 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 459 per 100,000 people (total: 1,881)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 46
> Population: 368,683
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending August 3: 12 per 100,000 (6th most)

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25. Mobile, AL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +5 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 47 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 42 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 2,179 per 100,000 people (total: 9,396)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 202
> Population: 413,757
> Avg. new daily cases in Alabama in 7 days ending August 3: 32 per 100,000 (24th most)

24/7 Wall St.
Places in Every State Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest

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24. Dalton, GA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 58 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 53 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 2,629 per 100,000 people (total: 3,770)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 29
> Population: 143,983
> Avg. new daily cases in Georgia in 7 days ending August 3: 34 per 100,000 (8th most)

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23. Idaho Falls, ID
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 28 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 22 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 644 per 100,000 people (total: 920)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 3
> Population: 149,051
> Avg. new daily cases in Idaho in 7 days ending August 3: 28 per 100,000 (12th fewest)

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22. Memphis, TN-MS-AR
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 40 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 34 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 2,189 per 100,000 people (total: 29,285)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 389
> Population: 1,350,064
> Avg. new daily cases in Tennessee in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000 (16th most)

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21. Sioux Falls, SD
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 17 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 11 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,910 per 100,000 people (total: 4,880)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 67
> Population: 266,100
> Avg. new daily cases in South Dakota in 7 days ending August 3: 9 per 100,000 (5th fewest)

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20. St. Louis, MO-IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 28 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 22 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,092 per 100,000 people (total: 30,646)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 1,200
> Population: 2,804,724
> Avg. new daily cases in Missouri in 7 days ending August 3: 24 per 100,000 (18th most)

ALSO READ: The Drunkest City in Every State

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19. Rocky Mount, NC
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 23 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 17 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,121 per 100,000 people (total: 1,652)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 22
> Population: 146,021
> Avg. new daily cases in North Carolina in 7 days ending August 3: 18 per 100,000 (9th most)

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18. Fort Smith, AR-OK
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +6 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 32 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 26 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,117 per 100,000 people (total: 2,782)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 24
> Population: 282,318
> Avg. new daily cases in Arkansas in 7 days ending August 3: 25 per 100,000 (18th fewest)

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17. Oklahoma City, OK
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 28 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 21 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,050 per 100,000 people (total: 14,383)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 165
> Population: 1,396,445
> Avg. new daily cases in Oklahoma in 7 days ending August 3: 26 per 100,000 (23rd fewest)

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16. Anchorage, AK
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 21 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 14 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 591 per 100,000 people (total: 2,361)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 15
> Population: 399,148
> Avg. new daily cases in Alaska in 7 days ending August 3: 14 per 100,000 (3rd fewest)

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15. Cleveland, TN
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +7 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 37 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 30 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,548 per 100,000 people (total: 1,878)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 11
> Population: 124,748
> Avg. new daily cases in Tennessee in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000 (16th most)

ALSO READ: COVID-19 Peak Dates for Every State

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14. Odessa, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 36 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 28 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,437 per 100,000 people (total: 2,276)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 36
> Population: 162,124
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 3: 25 per 100,000 (2nd most)

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13. Tulsa, OK
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 24 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,229 per 100,000 people (total: 12,105)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 167
> Population: 993,928
> Avg. new daily cases in Oklahoma in 7 days ending August 3: 26 per 100,000 (23rd fewest)

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12. Johnson City, TN
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 35 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 26 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 811 per 100,000 people (total: 1,631)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 7
> Population: 203,921
> Avg. new daily cases in Tennessee in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000 (16th most)

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11. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton, SC
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +8 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 49 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 41 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,991 per 100,000 people (total: 4,192)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 62
> Population: 217,686
> Avg. new daily cases in South Carolina in 7 days ending August 3: 30 per 100,000 (23rd most)

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10. Columbia, MO
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 23 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 14 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 676 per 100,000 people (total: 1,380)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 3
> Population: 180,005
> Avg. new daily cases in Missouri in 7 days ending August 3: 24 per 100,000 (18th most)

ALSO READ: Every State’s Plan to Reopen Schools in the Fall

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9. Rome, GA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +9 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 23 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,325 per 100,000 people (total: 1,283)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 15
> Population: 97,927
> Avg. new daily cases in Georgia in 7 days ending August 3: 34 per 100,000 (8th most)

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8. Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +12 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 42 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 30 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,427 per 100,000 people (total: 8,478)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 157
> Population: 605,903
> Avg. new daily cases in Georgia in 7 days ending August 3: 34 per 100,000 (8th most)

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7. Jackson, TN
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +12 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 38 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 25 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,063 per 100,000 people (total: 1,898)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 20
> Population: 129,209
> Avg. new daily cases in Tennessee in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000 (16th most)

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6. Twin Falls, ID
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +13 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 31 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 18 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,560 per 100,000 people (total: 1,671)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 38
> Population: 109,264
> Avg. new daily cases in Idaho in 7 days ending August 3: 28 per 100,000 (10th most)

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5. Morristown, TN
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +14 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 51 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 37 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,353 per 100,000 people (total: 1,894)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 15
> Population: 118,581
> Avg. new daily cases in Tennessee in 7 days ending August 3: 33 per 100,000 (16th most)

24/7 Wall St.
Places in Every State Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest

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4. Anniston-Oxford, AL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +15 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 50 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 35 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,355 per 100,000 people (total: 1,560)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 9
> Population: 114,277
> Avg. new daily cases in Alabama in 7 days ending August 3: 32 per 100,000 (24th most)

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3. Midland, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +25 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 31 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 7 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,310 per 100,000 people (total: 2,224)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 29
> Population: 177,218
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 3: 25 per 100,000 (2nd most)

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2. Ocala, FL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +28 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 68 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 40 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 1,517 per 100,000 people (total: 5,286)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 64
> Population: 359,977
> Avg. new daily cases in Florida in 7 days ending August 3: 45 per 100,000 (3rd most)

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1. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +34 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 104 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending July 27: 69 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 3: 3,205 per 100,000 people (total: 13,516)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 3: 368
> Population: 423,908
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 3: 25 per 100,000 (2nd most)

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