Special Report

This Is the Deadliest State for COVID-19

Xesai / E+ via Getty Images

The U.S. is in for a brutal winter of COVID-19 infections. The current wave has been triggered, primarily, by the omicron variant, which currently accounts for the vast majority of new cases in the U.S. Omicron spreads more rapidly than earlier variants, and people have gathered in airports, indoor venues, and in their homes during the holidays. In addition, a large portion of the population is not vaccinated. (These are the states where the most people are vaccinated.)

There also appear to be more breakthrough cases with this variant. These cases involve infection among those who are fully vaccinated, including having had a booster. While omicron is said to cause milder disease, the sheer number of cases means hospitalizations and deaths are climbing nationwide. The deadliest state for COVID-19 is Indiana.

Nationwide, the average of daily deaths is 0.56 per 100,000 people, or 1,873 COVID-19-realted deaths per day, according to The New York Times. 

There are several ways to measure how dangerous or deadly a geographic area is. Among these are new cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and vaccinations. And, these can be measured by averages over seven- or 14-day periods. For vaccinations, the yardstick is the percentage of the population that has received a shot, or two, or three.

To find the deadliest state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. chose the measure of average daily deaths over the most recent seven days per 100,000, using data from federal, state, and local sources as of Jan. 13.

The death rate in Indiana is the highest at 1.39 average daily deaths per 100,000 people. That is a seven-day average of 93 deaths a day. Indiana is followed by Delaware at 1.29 per 100,000, or 12 deaths a day. Next, Pennsylvania has a figure of 1.04 per 100,000, or 133 deaths per day.

Indiana moved several schools to e-learning because of the alarming spread of omicron. More concerning is that as statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to surpass previous highs, some hospitals are saying they are running low on treatments that prevent severe illness. 

Fox59 reports that “This set back in supply means area hospitals are now forced to restrict who is eligible to receive the life-saving treatment.” In addition to supplies, some states are experiencing medical staff shortages. These are 16 states where hospitals are experiencing the worst workforce shortages.

Click here to see this is the deadliest state for COVID-19

John Pennell / iStock via Getty Images

50. Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.02
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.14 (2nd lowest)

[in-text-ad]

vermontalm / iStock via Getty Images

49. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.02
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.14 (2nd lowest)

YangYin / iStock via Getty Images

48. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.11
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.57 (3rd lowest)

THEPALMER / E+ via Getty Images

47. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 39.57 (15th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images

46. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.00 (23rd lowest)

Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

45. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.22
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.29 (5th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

David Ryder / Getty Images News via Getty Images

44. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.00 (23rd lowest)

halbergman / E+ via Getty Images

43. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 91.43 (7th highest)

Sean Gardner / Getty Images News via Getty Images

42. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.26
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.00 (14th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

41. North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.29
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 30.29 (19th highest)

40. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.29
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.00 (7th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Go Nakamura / Getty Images News via Getty Images

39. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.30
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 85.86 (8th highest)

38. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.33
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.86 (16th lowest)

37. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.57 (6th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Jessica McGowan / Getty Images News via Getty Images

36. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 35.71 (16th highest)

CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

35. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.14 (13th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Jamie Squire / Getty Images News via Getty Images

34. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.00 (12th lowest)

hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

33. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.86 (19th lowest)

Prentiss Findlay / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

32. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.37
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 18.57 (25th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

31. Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.40
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.29 (5th lowest)

Sean Rayford / Getty Images News via Getty Images

30. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.40
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.71 (25th highest)

[in-text-ad]

DmitryPepper / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

29. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.44
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.86 (9th lowest)

Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images

28. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.44
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.29 (18th lowest)

27. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 7.86 (11th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images

26. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.48
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 27.57 (20th highest)

Michael Ciaglo / Getty Images News via Getty Images

25. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.49
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.29 (8th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Nicholas Nace / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

24. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.50
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 33.86 (18th highest)

RichVintage / E+ via Getty Images

23. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.50
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.86 (21st lowest)

22. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.52
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.71 (20th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Andy Lyons / Getty Images News via Getty Images

21. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.57 (22nd highest)

Jeff Wallager / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

20. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.61
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 34.00 (17th highest)

[in-text-ad]

John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

19. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.64
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.00 (23rd highest)

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images News via Getty Images

18. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.65
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.86 (10th lowest)

Michael Thomas / Getty Images News via Getty Images

17. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.71 (13th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

16. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.69
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.14 (14th highest)

wanderluster / E+ via Getty Images

15. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.72
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.00 (17th lowest)

[in-text-ad]

Maddie Meyer / Getty Images News via Getty Images

14. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.73
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 50.43 (12th highest)

wdstock / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

13. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.77
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 69.00 (9th highest)

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

12. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.80
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 102.29 (4th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

mrolands / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

11. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.82
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.00 (21st highest)

Victor J. Blue / Getty Images News via Getty Images

10. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.83
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 162.43 (the highest)

[in-text-ad]

9. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.90
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.43 (24th lowest)

Justin Casterline / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

8. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.93
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 108.71 (3rd highest)

grandriver / E+ via Getty Images

7. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.95
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 68.14 (10th highest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images News via Getty Images

6. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 0.96
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 96.00 (5th highest)

Win McNamee / Getty Images News via Getty Images

5. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 60.29 (11th highest)

[in-text-ad]

Sharon Chischilly / Getty Images News via Getty Images

4. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.01
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21.14 (24th highest)

Alex Potemkin / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

3. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.04
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 133.00 (2nd highest)

Mark Makela / Getty Images News via Getty Images

2. Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.29
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.43 (15th lowest)

[in-text-ad-2]

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

1. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 people (past 7 days): 1.39
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 93.14 (6th highest)

Want to Retire Early? Start Here (Sponsor)

Want retirement to come a few years earlier than you’d planned? Or are you ready to retire now, but want an extra set of eyes on your finances?

Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply clicking here you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help you build your plan to retire early. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.

Click here to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

 

Have questions about retirement or personal finance? Email us at [email protected]!

By emailing your questions to 24/7 Wall St., you agree to have them published anonymously on a673b.bigscoots-temp.com.

By submitting your story, you understand and agree that we may use your story, or versions of it, in all media and platforms, including via third parties.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.