Nearly two years in, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of over 890,000 Americans. Despite early indications that the omicron variant, which reached the U.S. on Dec. 1, 2021, would be less severe, deaths have continued to surge in the United States.
Since the emergence of the omicron variant, the population-adjusted death toll in the United States has eclipsed that of other large, wealthy nations, including Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In the past seven days alone, the virus has claimed the lives of nearly 17,500 Americans across the 50 states, or about 0.5 deaths for every 10,000 people.
COVID-19 fatality rates vary considerably from state to state, however, and in some parts of the country, the population-adjusted death rate over the past week is nearly double the national average. (Find out also how COVID fatality rates compare with other deadly diseases.)
To find the deadliest state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. used data from federal, state, and local sources as of Feb. 1, 2022. Currently, Ohio ranks as the deadliest state for the virus, with 1,084 deaths reported in the last seven days, or 0.93 for every 10,000 people.
Other states with especially high COVID-19 deaths rates over the past week include Indiana, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Some of these states have reported an average of over 100 deaths per day over the past seven days.
Encouragingly, the average number of daily deaths has fallen in a little over half all states between the past seven days and the seven days prior. Many public health experts speculate that the omicron variant may have already peaked in the U.S. However, it is important to note that cases remain high, and hospitalizations and deaths typically lag behind the infection rate. (These are states where COVID-19 cases are climbing fastest.)
Click here to see the deadliest state for COVID-19
50. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.9 (15th fewest)
> 14-day change: -77.9% (the largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 97
> Population : 6,137,428
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49. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.4 (2nd fewest)
> 14-day change: -58.5% (2nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 17
> Population : 1,068,778
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48. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.22
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.0 (the fewest)
> 14-day change: -41.7% (6th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 14
> Population : 623,989
47. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.7 (5th fewest)
> 14-day change: +3.1% (22nd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 33
> Population : 1,415,872
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46. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.24
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 11.0 (12th fewest)
> 14-day change: -11.5% (21st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 77
> Population : 3,205,958
45. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.28
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 157.6 (4th most)
> 14-day change: +20.2% (15th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 1,103
> Population : 39,512,223
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44. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.30
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.7 (8th fewest)
> 14-day change: -25.9% (15th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 40
> Population : 1,344,212
43. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.30
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 22.4 (20th fewest)
> 14-day change: -31.1% (10th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 157
> Population : 5,148,714
42. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.31
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 3.4 (4th fewest)
> 14-day change: +4.3% (21st largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 24
> Population : 762,062
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41. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.32
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 39.1 (20th most)
> 14-day change: +201.1% (2nd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 274
> Population : 8,535,519
40. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.1 (16th fewest)
> 14-day change: -11.7% (20th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 106
> Population : 3,017,804
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39. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.36
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21.4 (19th fewest)
> 14-day change: +127.3% (3rd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 150
> Population : 4,217,737
38. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.37
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.7 (17th fewest)
> 14-day change: -4.3% (24th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 110
> Population : 2,976,149
37. North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.38
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 57.4 (15th most)
> 14-day change: +17.2% (16th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 402
> Population : 10,488,084
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36. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.39
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 42.0 (19th most)
> 14-day change: +12.2% (19th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 294
> Population : 7,614,893
35. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.41
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.1 (7th fewest)
> 14-day change: -36.8% (8th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 36
> Population : 884,659
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34. Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.41
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 3.4 (4th fewest)
> 14-day change: +84.6% (4th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 24
> Population : 578,759
33. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.43
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 34.4 (23rd most)
> 14-day change: +13.7% (18th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 241
> Population : 5,639,632
32. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.43
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 24.6 (22nd fewest)
> 14-day change: +30.3% (12th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 172
> Population : 3,956,971
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31. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.43
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 180.1 (3rd most)
> 14-day change: +2.9% (23rd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 1,261
> Population : 28,995,881
30. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 29.0 (25th most)
> 14-day change: +0.0% ()
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 203
> Population : 4,467,673
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29. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 37.4 (21st most)
> 14-day change: +20.7% (14th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 262
> Population : 5,758,736
28. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 11.9 (13th fewest)
> 14-day change: +40.7% (8th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 83
> Population : 1,787,065
27. Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.9 (6th fewest)
> 14-day change: -47.7% (4th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 34
> Population : 731,545
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26. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.50
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.9 (15th fewest)
> 14-day change: +234.5% (the largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 97
> Population : 1,934,408
25. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.51
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.0 (11th fewest)
> 14-day change: -16.7% (18th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 70
> Population : 1,359,711
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24. Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.52
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 7.3 (9th fewest)
> 14-day change: -49.0% (3rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 51
> Population : 973,764
23. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.53
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 37.1 (22nd most)
> 14-day change: +79.3% (5th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 260
> Population : 4,903,185
22. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.54
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 82.0 (11th most)
> 14-day change: +37.0% (10th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 574
> Population : 10,617,423
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21. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 48.9 (17th most)
> 14-day change: -40.2% (7th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 342
> Population : 6,045,680
20. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.58
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.4 (23rd fewest)
> 14-day change: +36.9% (11th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 178
> Population : 3,080,156
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19. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.58
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.3 (24th fewest)
> 14-day change: +58.6% (6th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 184
> Population : 3,155,070
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18. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.59
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 8.9 (10th fewest)
> 14-day change: -19.5% (17th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 62
> Population : 1,059,361
17. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.59
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 180.4 (2nd most)
> 14-day change: +37.6% (9th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 1,263
> Population : 21,477,737
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16. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.59
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 49.3 (16th most)
> 14-day change: -2.8% (26th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 345
> Population : 5,822,434
15. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.61
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 31.0 (24th most)
> 14-day change: -33.6% (9th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 217
> Population : 3,565,287
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14. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.61
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 59.9 (14th most)
> 14-day change: -42.7% (5th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 419
> Population : 6,829,174
13. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.66
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 43.9 (18th most)
> 14-day change: +55.8% (7th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 307
> Population : 4,648,794
12. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.68
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 189.1 (the most)
> 14-day change: -28.7% (13th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 1,324
> Population : 19,453,561
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11. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.70
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 99.3 (8th most)
> 14-day change: -29.1% (12th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 695
> Population : 9,986,857
10. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.70
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 29.0 (25th most)
> 14-day change: +14.0% (17th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 203
> Population : 2,913,314
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9. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.74
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 93.3 (9th most)
> 14-day change: -27.9% (14th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 653
> Population : 8,882,190
8. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.74
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 72.4 (13th most)
> 14-day change: -4.3% (25th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 507
> Population : 6,892,503
7. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.75
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.1 (18th fewest)
> 14-day change: +26.4% (13th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 134
> Population : 1,792,147
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6. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.75
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 22.6 (21st fewest)
> 14-day change: +5.3% (20th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 158
> Population : 2,096,829
5. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.78
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 141.9 (7th most)
> 14-day change: -8.9% (22nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 993
> Population : 12,671,821
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4. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.80
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 146.4 (6th most)
> 14-day change: -20.2% (16th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 1,025
> Population : 12,801,989
3. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.80
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 83.3 (10th most)
> 14-day change: -6.1% (23rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 583
> Population : 7,278,717
2. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.82
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 78.6 (12th most)
> 14-day change: -12.4% (19th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 550
> Population : 6,732,219
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1. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 0.93
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 154.9 (5th most)
> 14-day change: -30.2% (11th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths (past 7 days): 1,084
> Population : 11,689,100
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