More than two years in, the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of over 960,000 people in the United States. Despite early indications that the omicron variant would be less severe, deaths have continued to rise in the United States.
Since the emergence of the omicron variant, the death toll in the United States has risen significantly, though the pace has abated somewhat. In the past 14 days alone, about 18,000 COVID-19 deaths were reported across the 50 states. But as the numbers of new cases have been declining nationwide, so should the numbers of new deaths. (Find out also how COVID fatality rates compare with other deadly diseases.)
To find the deadliest state for COVID-19, 24/7 Wall St. ranked states by the average daily deaths over the most recent seven days per 100,000 people, using data from federal, state, and local sources as of March 14.
Currently, South Carolina ranks as the deadliest state for the virus, with an average daily deaths of 53 over the past seven days, or 1 deaths per 100,000 people. Deaths have also been increasing in the state, and the average of new daily deaths is nearly 57% higher than it was 14 days ago.
This compares to Colorado, which reported an average of 4.4 daily deaths over the past seven days, or 0.08 per 100,000 people. Average daily deaths in the state declined by nearly 66% compared to 14 days ago.
Other states with relatively high COVID-19 deaths rates over the past week include Alabama, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Oklahoma, though unlike Maine, average new deaths in West Virginia and Alabama have decreased. Encouragingly, the average number of daily deaths has fallen in 43 states. (These are states where the most people are vaccinated.)
Click here to see this is the deadliest state for COVID-19
50. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.43 (12th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -65.93% (9th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,840 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 208 (9th lowest)
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49. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.86 (2nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -50.00% (20th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,421 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 324 (20th highest)
48. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.57 (the lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -77.78% (3rd highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 578 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 92 (the lowest)
47. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.86 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -84.71% (the highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,026 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 209 (10th lowest)
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46. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.00 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -70.58% (7th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 67,017 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 343 (13th highest)
45. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.43 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -73.68% (5th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,342 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 94 (2nd lowest)
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44. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.14
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.14 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -69.86% (8th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 33,067 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 371 (4th highest)
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43. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.14
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.00 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -30.00% (9th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 8,003 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 275 (18th lowest)
42. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9.43 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -40.00% (13th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,237 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 236 (16th lowest)
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41. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.17
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.29 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -63.64% (11th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,414 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 178 (8th lowest)
40. Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.43 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -54.55% (18th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,168 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 158 (4th lowest)
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39. Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.14 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -72.41% (6th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,749 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 303 (25th lowest)
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38. North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.86 (22nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -65.28% (10th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 22,892 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 220 (12th lowest)
37. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.24
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.29 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -49.18% (22nd lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,455 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 222 (13th lowest)
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36. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.24
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.57 (9th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -74.65% (4th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,221 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 303 (25th highest)
35. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.24
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 31.00 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.51% (15th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 37,271 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 293 (21st lowest)
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34. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.31
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.14 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -40.09% (14th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 43,767 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 342 (15th highest)
33. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.57 (9th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 28.57% (3rd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,223 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 292 (20th lowest)
32. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.57 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.97% (13th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,133 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 161 (6th lowest)
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31. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.00 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -52.27% (19th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,814 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 274 (17th lowest)
30. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.86 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 24.59% (4th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,518 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 143 (3rd lowest)
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29. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.29 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -54.60% (17th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,126 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 346 (10th highest)
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28. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.71 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -79.25% (2nd highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,142 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 160 (5th lowest)
27. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.37
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.57 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -44.06% (18th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,732 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 344 (11th highest)
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26. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.38
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 151.14 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -24.54% (7th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 86,185 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 218 (11th lowest)
25. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.39
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 111.86 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -49.94% (21st highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 84,780 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 295 (23rd lowest)
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24. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.40
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.43 (22nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -19.20% (6th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,615 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 297 (24th lowest)
23. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.41
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 27.43 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -62.06% (12th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 24,853 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 367 (5th highest)
22. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.41
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.00 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -33.58% (10th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 9,262 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 293 (22nd lowest)
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21. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.43
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 36.57 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.68% (14th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,212 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 226 (14th lowest)
20. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.00 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -6.67% (the lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,848 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 323 (21st highest)
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19. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21.57 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -45.68% (20th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 16,862 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 362 (7th highest)
18. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.48
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 55.71 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.42% (16th highest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 37,212 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 318 (23rd highest)
17. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.51
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 51.00 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -37.26% (12th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 35,162 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 352 (9th highest)
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16. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.52
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 30.29 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -8.62% (3rd lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 13,662 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 235 (15th lowest)
15. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.29 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -27.54% (8th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 9,895 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 326 (19th highest)
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14. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 60.14 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -42.33% (17th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 36,129 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 343 (12th highest)
13. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12.00 (18th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -41.67% (15th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 7,040 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 336 (18th highest)
12. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.57
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 24.00 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 3.70% (7th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,854 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 164 (7th lowest)
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11. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.59
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.57 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -41.98% (16th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,247 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 410 (the highest)
10. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.61
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 37.14 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -48.31% (21st lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,347 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 316 (24th highest)
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9. Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.62
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.00 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -14.29% (5th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,753 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 285 (19th lowest)
8. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.71
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 151.86 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 8.25% (5th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 71,853 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 337 (17th highest)
7. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.76
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 54.57 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -44.40% (19th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 28,090 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 392 (2nd highest)
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6. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.83
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.00 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -8.38% (2nd lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,836 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 360 (8th highest)
5. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.85
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 33.57 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 5.38% (6th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 13,513 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 343 (14th highest)
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4. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.91
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 40.86 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 38.16% (2nd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,259 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 319 (22nd highest)
3. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.93
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 16.71 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -36.41% (11th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,544 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 362 (6th highest)
2. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.03
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 50.29 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -11.78% (4th lowest decrease)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 18,832 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 385 (3rd highest)
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1. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.04
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 53.00 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 56.54% (the highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 17,332 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 341 (16th highest)
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