Special Report
COVID-19: This Is the Only State Left With Zero Variants
Published:
The pace at which COVID-19 has spread across the U.S. has slowed. The U.S. is reporting a fraction of the daily confirmed and fatal cases compared to less than two months ago, when there were over 200,000 new cases a day and as many as 4,000 deaths. Nevertheless, the toll has been brutal.
More than 530,000 Americans have died, accounting for 20% of the reported world total. Confirmed cases have reached 29,337,446, or about a quarter of the global number. Many scientists believe the U.S. case figure is far too low because of poor testing across much of the nation.
Vaccinations have joined mask wearing and social distancing as primary weapons against the spread of the disease. Three vaccines are now available in the U.S., from Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer. The Biden administration aims to have enough vaccines for all Americans by the end of May. Almost 18% of Americans have received at least one dose of a vaccine. About 9.5% have received two doses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 116,378,615 doses have been delivered, and 92,089,852 doses have been administered.
One of the primary causes, if not the primary cause, of concern among epidemiologists is the rise of variants, which appear to be the main driver of new infections. The CDC tracks three variants, identified as the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants. One or more of these has been found in 49 states.
So far, according to the CDC, there are 3,037 reported cases of the B.1.1.7 variant, 81 reported cases of B.1.351 variant and 15 reported cases of the P.1 variant. These figures are misleading, as The New York Times reports: “As U.S. coronavirus cases remain at a low not seen since October, a more contagious variant first reported in the United Kingdom has likely grown to account for more than 20 percent of new U.S. cases as of this week, according to an analysis of data from Helix, a lab testing company.” The variant first identified in the U.K. is the one known as B.1.1.7. The reason these figures likely underestimate the variant cases is that not all tests are sequenced to find if they are a variant of concern.
To determine the only state with zero variants, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on the number of COVID-19 cases caused by variants of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. States were ranked based on the total number of cases caused by the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants as of March 11, 2021, ordered from the most reported cases to the fewest. Supplemental data on total COVID-19 cases, deaths, and vaccines administered came from various state and local health departments and were adjusted for population using one-year data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
Only one state — Vermont — has no reported cases of the three variants tracked by the CDC. The cases are most common in Florida (753 reported variant cases), Michigan (617), Massachusetts (381), California (346), and Colorado (311).
The other extent to which the CDC data is misleading is other variants that have been discovered nationwide but that the CDC is not tracking. Also, testing for the variants is not consistent across the country, and sequencing has been occurring at different rates in different states.
The Mercury News says of these homegrown variants:
There is also another variant of concern in California, what appears to be a homegrown variant known as B.1.427 and B.1.429. This variant is now spreading widely in California, and research out of UCSF suggests it may make people sicker and it may be more contagious than the earlier coronavirus.
Click here to see the only state left with zero variants.
1. Florida
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 753
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 1,976,808 (9,204 per 100,000 — 23rd fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 32,859 (153 per 100,000 — 23rd fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 7,108,286 (26,485 per 100,000 — second fewest)
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2. Michigan
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 617
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 670,088 (6,710 per 100,000 — eighth fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 16,769 (168 per 100,000 — 21st most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 3,166,094 (45,569 per 100,000 — the most)
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3. Massachusetts
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 381
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 602,308 (8,739 per 100,000 — 18th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 16,645 (241 per 100,000 — fourth most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,561,749 (35,138 per 100,000 — 18th most)
4. California
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 346
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 3,526,335 (8,925 per 100,000 — 21st fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 55,235 (140 per 100,000 — 21st fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 11,883,375 (29,247 per 100,000 — fifth fewest)
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5. Colorado
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 311
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 443,968 (7,709 per 100,000 — 12th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 6,038 (105 per 100,000 — ninth fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,878,639 (30,075 per 100,000 — sixth fewest)
6. Minnesota
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 254
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 497,392 (8,820 per 100,000 — 19th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 6,746 (120 per 100,000 — 17th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,000,939 (32,622 per 100,000 — 22nd fewest)
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7. Maryland
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 232
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 393,441 (6,508 per 100,000 — seventh fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 8,048 (133 per 100,000 — 19th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,961,982 (39,591 per 100,000 — fifth most)
8. Georgia
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 207
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 1,033,786 (9,737 per 100,000 — 18th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 18,215 (172 per 100,000 — 19th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,754,347 (32,635 per 100,000 — 23rd fewest)
9. Connecticut
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 180
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 290,577 (8,150 per 100,000 — 14th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 7,765 (218 per 100,000 — seventh most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,411,532 (33,096 per 100,000 — 25th fewest)
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10. New Jersey
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 163
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 838,025 (9,435 per 100,000 — 23rd most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 23,903 (269 per 100,000 — second most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 3,065,373 (25,942 per 100,000 — the fewest)
11. Texas
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 141
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 2,718,383 (9,375 per 100,000 — 25th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 45,543 (157 per 100,000 — 25th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 8,421,946 (37,294 per 100,000 — eighth most)
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12. New York
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 137
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 1,728,406 (8,885 per 100,000 — 20th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 39,527 (203 per 100,000 — 11th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 6,295,058 (30,786 per 100,000 — 10th fewest)
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13. Washington
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 105
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 349,425 (4,589 per 100,000 — fifth fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 5,123 (67 per 100,000 — seventh fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,562,529 (33,124 per 100,000 — 25th most)
14. Illinois
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 98
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 1,209,331 (9,543 per 100,000 — 20th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 20,943 (165 per 100,000 — 24th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 4,197,470 (31,598 per 100,000 — 14th fewest)
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15. Ohio
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 92
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 989,191 (8,463 per 100,000 — 17th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 18,036 (154 per 100,000 — 24th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 3,732,147 (35,326 per 100,000 — 16th most)
16. Utah
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 81
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 378,379 (11,802 per 100,000 — third most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 2,027 (63 per 100,000 — sixth fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,007,495 (30,910 per 100,000 — 11th fewest)
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17. Alabama
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 71
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 503,673 (10,272 per 100,000 — 12th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 10,327 (211 per 100,000 — 10th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,298,612 (33,505 per 100,000 — 24th most)
17. South Carolina
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 71
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 533,421 (10,360 per 100,000 — 11th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 8,875 (172 per 100,000 — 18th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,583,500 (31,500 per 100,000 — 13th fewest)
19 (tied). Pennsylvania
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 69
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 966,210 (7,547 per 100,000 — 10th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 24,530 (192 per 100,000 — 12th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 4,191,298 (37,970 per 100,000 — seventh most)
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19 (tied). Virginia
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 69
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 594,735 (6,968 per 100,000 — ninth fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 10,019 (117 per 100,000 — 14th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,892,286 (32,453 per 100,000 — 20th fewest)
21. Tennessee
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 68
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 789,652 (11,563 per 100,000 — fourth most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 11,639 (170 per 100,000 — 20th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,921,346 (37,167 per 100,000 — ninth most)
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22. Wisconsin
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 67
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 569,638 (9,784 per 100,000 — 17th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 6,536 (112 per 100,000 — 13th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,072,866 (31,703 per 100,000 — 15th fewest)
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23. North Carolina
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 43
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 882,715 (8,416 per 100,000 — 16th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 116,889 (1,114 per 100,000 — the most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 3,414,474 (35,480 per 100,000 — 15th most)
24. Arizona
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 39
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 832,743 (11,441 per 100,000 — sixth most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 16,553 (227 per 100,000 — sixth most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,557,630 (30,139 per 100,000 — seventh fewest)
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25. Indiana
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 31
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 672,554 (9,990 per 100,000 — 15th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 12,446 (185 per 100,000 — 14th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 2,127,229 (30,424 per 100,000 — eighth fewest)
26. Iowa
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 25
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 342,743 (10,863 per 100,000 — eighth most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 5,633 (179 per 100,000 — 17th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,114,556 (37,030 per 100,000 — 11th most)
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27. Louisiana
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 24
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 437,393 (9,409 per 100,000 — 24th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 9,884 (213 per 100,000 — ninth most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,464,377 (34,451 per 100,000 — 20th most)
28. New Hampshire
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 19
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 78,615 (5,782 per 100,000 — sixth fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 1,199 (88 per 100,000 — eighth fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 460,696 (32,120 per 100,000 — 17th fewest)
29. Oregon
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 17
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 159,037 (3,771 per 100,000 — fourth fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 2,319 (55 per 100,000 — fifth fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,366,471 (33,882 per 100,000 — 22nd most)
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30. Kansas
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 14
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 297,748 (10,220 per 100,000 — 13th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 4,824 (166 per 100,000 — 23rd most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 900,500 (34,511 per 100,000 — 19th most)
31 (tied). Delaware
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 13
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 90,381 (9,282 per 100,000 — 24th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 1,507 (155 per 100,000 — 25th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 317,790 (44,933 per 100,000 — second most)
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31 (tied). Kentucky
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 13
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 416,215 (9,316 per 100,000 — 25th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 4,982 (112 per 100,000 — 12th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,496,894 (32,359 per 100,000 — 18th fewest)
33. Nevada
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 11
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 299,287 (9,717 per 100,000 — 19th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 5,118 (166 per 100,000 — 22nd most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 989,342 (32,556 per 100,000 — 21st fewest)
34. Idaho
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 10
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 175,236 (9,806 per 100,000 — 16th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 1,910 (107 per 100,000 — 10th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 550,174 (41,601 per 100,000 — fourth most)
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35 (tied). Mississippi
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 9
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 300,780 (10,106 per 100,000 — 14th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 6,901 (232 per 100,000 — fifth most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 896,984 (31,928 per 100,000 — 16th fewest)
35 (tied). New Mexico
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 9
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 188,311 (8,981 per 100,000 — 22nd fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 3,852 (184 per 100,000 — 15th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 942,171 (37,028 per 100,000 — 12th most)
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35 (tied). Wyoming
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 9
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 55,163 (9,531 per 100,000 — 21st most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 691 (119 per 100,000 — 16th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 211,910 (32,398 per 100,000 — 19th fewest)
38 (tied). Nebraska
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 7
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 204,648 (10,579 per 100,000 — 10th most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 2,127 (110 per 100,000 — 11th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 666,417 (32,739 per 100,000 — 24th fewest)
38 (tied). North Dakota
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 7
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 100,976 (13,250 per 100,000 — the most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 1,457 (191 per 100,000 — 13th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 317,029 (35,323 per 100,000 — 17th most)
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38 (tied). Rhode Island
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 7
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 130,502 (12,319 per 100,000 — second most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 2,567 (242 per 100,000 — third most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 374,193 (30,755 per 100,000 — ninth fewest)
41 (tied). Hawaii
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 6
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 28,259 (1,996 per 100,000 — the fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 451 (32 per 100,000 — the fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 528,035 (42,170 per 100,000 — third most)
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41 (tied). Maine
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 6
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 47,025 (3,498 per 100,000 — third fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 724 (54 per 100,000 — fourth fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 510,397 (28,134 per 100,000 — third fewest)
43. Montana
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 5
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 101,760 (9,521 per 100,000 — 22nd most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 1,392 (130 per 100,000 — 18th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 395,770 (29,045 per 100,000 — fourth fewest)
44 (tied). Alaska
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 3
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 60,265 (8,238 per 100,000 — 15th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 302 (41 per 100,000 — third fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 333,357 (31,426 per 100,000 — 12th fewest)
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44 (tied). Missouri
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 3
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 483,513 (7,878 per 100,000 — 13th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 8,310 (135 per 100,000 — 20th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,867,231 (37,118 per 100,000 — 10th most)
44 (tied). West Virginia
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 3
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 135,468 (7,559 per 100,000 — 11th fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 2,530 (141 per 100,000 — 22nd fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 684,336 (33,885 per 100,000 — 21st most)
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47. South Dakota
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 2
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 101,484 (11,472 per 100,000 — fifth most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 1,912 (216 per 100,000 — eighth most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 373,065 (33,652 per 100,000 — 23rd most)
48 (tied). Arkansas
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 1
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 326,943 (10,834 per 100,000 — ninth most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 5,474 (181 per 100,000 — 16th most)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 882,630 (38,185 per 100,000 — sixth most)
48 (tied). Oklahoma
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 1
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 432,483 (10,930 per 100,000 — seventh most)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 4,701 (119 per 100,000 — 15th fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 1,465,197 (35,601 per 100,000 — 14th most)
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50. Vermont
> COVID-19 variant cases as of Mar. 11: 0
> Total COVID-19 cases of Mar. 14: 16,890 (2,707 per 100,000 — second fewest)
> COVID-19 deaths as of Mar. 14: 214 (34 per 100,000 — second fewest)
> Vaccines administered as of Mar. 14: 231,610 (36,615 per 100,000 — 13th most)
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