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. 10, just over 40,000 coronavirus cases were reported in the United States, the fewest daily new cases in well over a month.

And after weeks of reporting ever-increasing rates in new infections, many states are finally beginning to report 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 some places that have only started to record a surge 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. 10 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 1.8 cases per 100,000 people. Average daily cases in the 24 metro areas on this list climbed by at least 3 cases per 100,000 residents this week compared to the previous one, and by as many as 85.

Many of the cities on this list are in states that suffered the worst outbreaks of COVID-19 in the country, notably Texas, which is home to nine of the 24 metropolitan areas on this list. In the week ending Aug. 10, Texas reported an average of 31 new daily cases per 100,000 residents, the sixth highest such figure among states. In early June, Texas had 5.5 average new daily cases, which ranked 28th highest among states. 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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24. Fond du Lac, WI
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 12 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 8 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 656 per 100,000 people (total: 671)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 7
> Population: 103,066
> Avg. new daily cases in Wisconsin in 7 days ending August 10: 14 per 100,000 (20th most)

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23. Bay City, MI
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 8 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 5 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 609 per 100,000 people (total: 638)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 31
> Population: 103,923
> Avg. new daily cases in Michigan in 7 days ending August 10: 7 per 100,000 (11th fewest)

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22. Springfield, IL
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 16 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 13 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 633 per 100,000 people (total: 1,330)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 33
> Population: 207,676
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending August 10: 13 per 100,000 (25th most)

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21. Duluth, MN-WI
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 9 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 6 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 316 per 100,000 people (total: 915)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 19
> Population: 278,799
> Avg. new daily cases in Minnesota in 7 days ending August 10: 12 per 100,000 (23rd fewest)

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Courtesy of the City of Sherman, TX

20. Sherman-Denison, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +3 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 12 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 9 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 886 per 100,000 people (total: 1,139)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 13
> Population: 133,991
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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19. Fort Smith, AR-OK
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 36 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 32 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,337 per 100,000 people (total: 3,330)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 30
> Population: 282,318
> Avg. new daily cases in Arkansas in 7 days ending August 10: 27 per 100,000 (8th most)

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18. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 16 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 12 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 704 per 100,000 people (total: 3,531)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 47
> Population: 499,942
> Avg. new daily cases in California in 7 days ending August 10: 19 per 100,000 (15th most)

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17. Walla Walla, WA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +4 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 23 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 19 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 908 per 100,000 people (total: 547)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 3
> Population: 65,611
> Avg. new daily cases in Washington in 7 days ending August 10: 10 per 100,000 (16th fewest)

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16. Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX
> 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 10: 32 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 27 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,790 per 100,000 people (total: 121,365)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 2,082
> Population: 6,997,384
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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15. El Paso, TX
> 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 10: 29 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 24 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,957 per 100,000 people (total: 16,396)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 285
> Population: 844,723
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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14. 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 10: 18 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 13 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 596 per 100,000 people (total: 2,441)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 46
> Population: 368,683
> Avg. new daily cases in Illinois in 7 days ending August 10: 13 per 100,000 (25th most)

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13. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
> 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 10: 22 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 17 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,773 per 100,000 people (total: 36,495)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 444
> Population: 2,168,316
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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12. Athens-Clarke County, GA
> 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 10: 32 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 27 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,531 per 100,000 people (total: 3,143)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 46
> Population: 211,802
> Avg. new daily cases in Georgia in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (4th most)

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11. Waco, TX
> 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 10: 32 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 26 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,919 per 100,000 people (total: 5,098)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 58
> Population: 270,566
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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10. 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 10: 33 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 28 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 893 per 100,000 people (total: 1,276)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 5
> Population: 149,051
> Avg. new daily cases in Idaho in 7 days ending August 10: 27 per 100,000 (9th most)

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9. Urban Honolulu, HI
> 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 10: 14 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 7 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 329 per 100,000 people (total: 3,249)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 27
> Population: 980,080
> Avg. new daily cases in Hawaii in 7 days ending August 10: 10 per 100,000 (19th fewest)

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8. Jonesboro, AR
> 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 10: 33 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 25 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,279 per 100,000 people (total: 1,660)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 15
> Population: 132,532
> Avg. new daily cases in Arkansas in 7 days ending August 10: 27 per 100,000 (8th most)

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7. Terre Haute, IN
> 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 10: 18 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 9 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 551 per 100,000 people (total: 1,033)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 17
> Population: 168,679
> Avg. new daily cases in Indiana in 7 days ending August 10: 13 per 100,000 (25th fewest)

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6. Pine Bluff, AR
> 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 10: 40 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 31 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 3,139 per 100,000 people (total: 2,899)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 54
> Population: 90,306
> Avg. new daily cases in Arkansas in 7 days ending August 10: 27 per 100,000 (8th most)

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5. Laredo, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +18 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 80 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 61 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 2,899 per 100,000 people (total: 7,888)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 96
> Population: 275,910
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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4. Lafayette, LA
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +23 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 67 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 44 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 3,289 per 100,000 people (total: 16,081)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 325
> Population: 489,364
> Avg. new daily cases in Louisiana in 7 days ending August 10: 38 per 100,000 (the most)

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3. Midland, 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 10: 65 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 31 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 1,559 per 100,000 people (total: 2,647)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 38
> Population: 177,218
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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2. Corpus Christi, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +42 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 59 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 17 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 2,844 per 100,000 people (total: 12,161)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 168
> Population: 452,927
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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1. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
> Change in daily avg. new COVID-19 cases week over week: +85 per 100,000 people
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 10: 188 per 100,000
> Avg. new daily cases in 7 days ending August 3: 104 per 100,000
> Cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases as of August 10: 3,934 per 100,000 people (total: 16,590)
> COVID-19 related deaths as of August 10: 430
> Population: 423,908
> Avg. new daily cases in Texas in 7 days ending August 10: 31 per 100,000 (6th most)

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