It has been about two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and two months since the U.S. was hit with omicron – a variant shown to be four times more infectious than the delta variant, which itself is twice as infectious as the original strain. The highly contagious omicron variant has sent infection rates soaring to new all-time highs in the United States, more than doubling the previous record set in January 2021.
Over the past seven days alone, over 3.6 million new infections were reported across the 50 states, or 110.4 for every 10,000 people. The recent surge in cases is affecting different states at different times, however, and currently, some parts of the country are far more dangerous than others. (COVID-19 these are the states fighting it most successfully.)
To find the most dangerous state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. used data from federal, state, and local sources as of Feb. 1, 2022. Currently, Alaska ranks as the most dangerous state for the virus, with 16,629 new cases reported in the last seven days, or 227 cases for every 10,000 people.
Other states with especially high COVID-19 infection rates in recent days include Kentucky, Washington, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Some of these states have reported an average of over 10,000 new cases per day in the past week. (These are the states getting the most COVID-19 vaccines from the federal government.)
Encouragingly, the average number of new daily cases has fallen in the vast majority of 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.
Click here to see the most dangerous state for COVID-19
50. Maryland
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 30.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,655 (12th fewest)
> 14-day change: -65.4% (7th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 18,588
> Population : 6,045,680
[in-text-ad]
49. New Jersey
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 47.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 6,013 (23rd fewest)
> 14-day change: -67.3% (4th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 42,091
> Population : 8,882,190
48. New York
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 47.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 13,216 (12th most)
> 14-day change: -70.5% (2nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 92,509
> Population : 19,453,561
47. Maine
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 54.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,047 (2nd fewest)
> 14-day change: -1.0% (47th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 7,326
> Population : 1,344,212
[in-text-ad-2]
46. Ohio
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 59.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 10,010 (18th most)
> 14-day change: -70.8% (largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 70,070
> Population : 11,689,100
45. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 65.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 12,012 (15th most)
> 14-day change: -57.4% (10th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 84,087
> Population : 12,801,989
[in-text-ad]
44. Connecticut
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 68.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,485 (15th fewest)
> 14-day change: -43.1% (23rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 24,396
> Population : 3,565,287
24/7 Wall St.
43. Delaware
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 76.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,066 (3rd fewest)
> 14-day change: -65.6% (6th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 7,459
> Population : 973,764
42. Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 82.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 10,071 (17th most)
> 14-day change: -37.8% (28th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 70,499
> Population : 8,535,519
[in-text-ad-2]
41. Vermont
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 87.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 779 (the fewest)
> 14-day change: -53.3% (12th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 5,455
> Population : 623,989
40. Florida
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 87.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 26,854 (3rd most)
> 14-day change: -47.1% (18th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 187,975
> Population : 21,477,737
[in-text-ad]
39. Texas
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 89.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 36,940 (2nd most)
> 14-day change: -59.4% (9th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 258,577
> Population : 28,995,881
24/7 Wall St.
38. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 90.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,924 (21st most)
> 14-day change: -49.8% (15th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 62,465
> Population : 6,892,503
37. Missouri
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 93.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,228 (22nd most)
> 14-day change: -51.4% (14th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 57,595
> Population : 6,137,428
[in-text-ad-2]
36. Colorado
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 94.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,785 (24th most)
> 14-day change: -43.5% (20th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 54,494
> Population : 5,758,736
35. Iowa
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 94.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,275 (18th fewest)
> 14-day change: -41.4% (26th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 29,925
> Population : 3,155,070
[in-text-ad]
34. Louisiana
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 97.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 6,464 (24th fewest)
> 14-day change: -41.7% (25th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 45,251
> Population : 4,648,794
24/7 Wall St.
33. Arkansas
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 97.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,203 (17th fewest)
> 14-day change: -65.3% (8th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 29,423
> Population : 3,017,804
32. Illinois
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 97.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 17,687 (6th most)
> 14-day change: -42.0% (24th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 123,812
> Population : 12,671,821
[in-text-ad-2]
31. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 98.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,173 (23rd most)
> 14-day change: -67.5% (3rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 57,213
> Population : 5,822,434
30. South Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 98.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,247 (4th fewest)
> 14-day change: -46.0% (19th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 8,727
> Population : 884,659
[in-text-ad]
29. Hawaii
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 107.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,169 (9th fewest)
> 14-day change: -66.1% (5th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 15,186
> Population : 1,415,872
28. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 108.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,100 (8th fewest)
> 14-day change: -39.5% (27th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 14,699
> Population : 1,359,711
27. Nevada
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 109.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,798 (20th fewest)
> 14-day change: -30.9% (34th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 33,583
> Population : 3,080,156
[in-text-ad-2]
26. Idaho
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 110.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,809 (13th fewest)
> 14-day change: -9.1% (46th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 19,664
> Population : 1,787,065
25. Georgia
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 110.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 16,692 (7th most)
> 14-day change: -14.3% (43rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 116,843
> Population : 10,617,423
[in-text-ad]
24. Michigan
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 111.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 15,851 (8th most)
> 14-day change: -33.1% (32nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 110,955
> Population : 9,986,857
23. Nebraska
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 115.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,186 (14th fewest)
> 14-day change: -23.5% (40th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 22,302
> Population : 1,934,408
22. Oregon
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 118.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,109 (25th most)
> 14-day change: -24.8% (39th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 49,761
> Population : 4,217,737
[in-text-ad-2]
21. Indiana
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 118.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 11,364 (16th most)
> 14-day change: -30.5% (35th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 79,545
> Population : 6,732,219
20. Mississippi
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 121.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,183 (21st fewest)
> 14-day change: -35.3% (30th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 36,284
> Population : 2,976,149
[in-text-ad]
19. Alabama
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 132.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 9,301 (20th most)
> 14-day change: -51.4% (13th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 65,109
> Population : 4,903,185
18. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 135.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,043 (7th fewest)
> 14-day change: -53.6% (11th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 14,298
> Population : 1,059,361
17. Kansas
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 142.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,917 (22nd fewest)
> 14-day change: -47.9% (17th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 41,419
> Population : 2,913,314
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Arizona
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 145.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 15,119 (10th most)
> 14-day change: -49.5% (16th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 105,833
> Population : 7,278,717
15. West Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 146.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,739 (16th fewest)
> 14-day change: -43.4% (21st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 26,174
> Population : 1,792,147
[in-text-ad]
14. Utah
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 153.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 7,037 (25th fewest)
> 14-day change: -43.2% (22nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 49,262
> Population : 3,205,958
13. North Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 154.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 23,159 (4th most)
> 14-day change: -31.7% (33rd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 162,114
> Population : 10,488,084
12. New Mexico
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 155.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 4,654 (19th fewest)
> 14-day change: -26.3% (38th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 32,579
> Population : 2,096,829
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Montana
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 156.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,387 (11th fewest)
> 14-day change: +37.0% (largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 16,708
> Population : 1,068,778
10. Wyoming
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 158.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,308 (5th fewest)
> 14-day change: -11.8% (44th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 9,157
> Population : 578,759
[in-text-ad]
9. Tennessee
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 159.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 15,510 (9th most)
> 14-day change: -22.0% (42nd largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 108,570
> Population : 6,829,174
8. North Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 161.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,760 (6th fewest)
> 14-day change: -34.5% (31st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 12,322
> Population : 762,062
7. California
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 162.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 91,893 (the most)
> 14-day change: -28.6% (36th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 643,248
> Population : 39,512,223
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Minnesota
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 164.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 13,276 (11th most)
> 14-day change: +3.2% (3rd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 92,931
> Population : 5,639,632
5. South Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 167.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 12,334 (13th most)
> 14-day change: -35.5% (29th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 86,337
> Population : 5,148,714
[in-text-ad]
4. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 176.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 9,963 (19th most)
> 14-day change: -28.0% (37th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 69,742
> Population : 3,956,971
3. Washington
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 187.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 20,380 (5th most)
> 14-day change: +12.8% (2nd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 142,663
> Population : 7,614,893
2. Kentucky
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 189.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 12,086 (14th most)
> 14-day change: -10.3% (45th largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 84,603
> Population : 4,467,673
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Alaska
> Avg. daily cases per 10,000 people (past 7 days): 227.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,376 (10th fewest)
> 14-day change: -23.0% (41st largest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases (past 7 days): 16,629
> Population : 731,545
Take Charge of Your Retirement In Just A Few Minutes (Sponsor)
Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance—and SmartAsset’s made it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor.
Here’s how it works:
- Answer a Few Simple Questions. Tell us a bit about your goals and preferences—it only takes a few minutes!
- Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Our smart tool matches you with up to three pre-screened, vetted advisors who serve your area and are held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Click here to begin
- Choose Your Fit Review their profiles, schedule an introductory call (or meet in person), and select the advisor who feel is right for you.
Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of. Click here to get started today!
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
Our expert who first called NVIDIA in 2009 is predicting 2025 will see a historic AI breakthrough.
You can follow him investing $500,000 of his own money on our top AI stocks for free.