Special Report

This Is the Deadliest State for COVID-19 This Month

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The United States is bracing to reach 1 million COVID-19-related deaths, a figure the nation could hit in the coming weeks. So far, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed 988,663 people in the United States, with over 17,500 deaths in the past four weeks, according to Johns Hopkins University. Largely because of the pandemic, U.S. life expectancy overall decreased by nearly two years in 2020. (This is how U.S. life expectancy compares to that in other wealthy nations.)

On the other hand, unlike total cases, which have been increasing, deaths from COVID-19 have been declining – dropping 21% in the past two weeks to an average of 0.15 daily deaths per 100,000 people over the past seven days, according to The New York Times. Still, death rates are rising in some states, with the deadliest state for COVID-19 being Nevada.

To make this determination, 24/7 Tempo ranked states based on the average daily deaths over the most recent seven days per 100,000 people, using data from federal, state, and local sources, current as of April 14. 

Currently, Nevada ranks as the deadliest state for the virus, with an average of 52 daily deaths over the past seven days, or 1.7 deaths per 100,000 people. That represents a significant surge, with the average of new daily deaths rising more than 810% from 14 days ago. Rhode Island, the deadliest state two weeks ago, became the 42nd deadliest state, as deaths declined by nearly 96% from two weeks ago.

Click here to see the deadliest states for COVID-19

Other states with relatively high COVID-19 death rates over the past week include Arizona, Maine, Oregon, and Tennessee, with average new deaths increasing in all these states. The average number of daily deaths has fallen in 29 states and increased in 16. Five states – Alaska, Delaware, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wyoming – reported no new deaths over the past seven days. (These are the states that had more deaths than births in 2021.)

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46. (tie) Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.00 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -100% (no new deaths)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,195 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 162 (4th lowest)

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46. (tie) Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.00 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -100% (no new deaths)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,871 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 297 (22nd lowest)

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46. (tie) North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.00 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -100% (no new deaths)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,257 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 224 (12th lowest)

46. (tie) Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.00 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -100% (no new deaths)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,010 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 355 (11th highest)

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46. (tie) Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.00
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.00 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -100% (no new deaths)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,796 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 311 (24th highest)

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45. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.03
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.43 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -40% (13th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,370 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 96 (2nd lowest)

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44. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.03
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.00 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -75.00% (4th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,414 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 416 (the highest)

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43. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.05
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.14 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 2.90% (the smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 67,436 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 345 (18th highest)

42. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.05
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.57 (8th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -95.60% (the highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,527 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 334 (20th highest)

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41. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.06
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.14 (14th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -61.54% (7th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,808 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 303 (25th lowest)

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40. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.57 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -21.95% (4th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 20,166 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 292 (19th lowest)

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39. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.43 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -25.00% (6th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 593 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 95 (the lowest)

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38. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 8.86 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -36.08% (11th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 37,789 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 297 (21st lowest)

37. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.29 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 12.82% (4th smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 33,306 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 374 (7th highest)

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36. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.29 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -84.16% (3rd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,730 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 150 (3rd lowest)

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35. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.07
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 28.86 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -55.90% (9th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 88,557 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 224 (11th lowest)

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34. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.14 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -11.11% (the smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,463 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 182 (8th lowest)

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33. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 11.00 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -47.62% (14th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 44,425 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 347 (15th highest)

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32. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.43 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 18.75% (5th smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,391 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 238 (15th lowest)

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31. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.14 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -45.37% (15th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 86,279 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 301 (24th lowest)

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30. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.43 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -85.33% (2nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,372 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 247 (16th lowest)

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29. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.43 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -55.71% (10th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 17,185 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 369 (8th highest)

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28. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 3.00 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -51.16% (12th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 9,475 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 300 (23rd lowest)

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27. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.00 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -49.28% (13th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 35,776 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 358 (9th highest)

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26. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.71 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -33.33% (9th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,689 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 226 (13th lowest)

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25. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.10
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.86 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 24.24% (8th smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,019 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 211 (9th lowest)

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24. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.11
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 8.29 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -28.40% (7th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,585 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 167 (5th lowest)

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23. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.11
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.71 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -35.66% (10th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 73,622 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 346 (17th highest)

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22. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.12
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 7.86 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -14.06% (3rd smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,493 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 351 (13th highest)

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21. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.12
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 3.71 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -69.05% (6th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,316 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 375 (5th highest)

20. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.13
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.00 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -36.36% (12th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,254 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 297 (20th lowest)

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19. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.13
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.43 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 11.11% (3rd smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,259 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 307 (25th highest)

18. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.13
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.86 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -51.52% (11th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 17,698 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 348 (14th highest)

17. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.15
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.57 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 80.00% (5th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,905 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 280 (17th lowest)

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16. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.15
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.71 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -32.97% (8th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 38,166 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 326 (23rd highest)

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15. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.43 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 100.00% (4th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,893 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 328 (22nd highest)

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14. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 3.71 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -72.04% (5th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,190 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 217 (10th lowest)

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13. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9.57 (19th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -41.74% (14th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,441 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 398 (3rd highest)

12. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.28
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 23.57 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 48.65% (6th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,954 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 234 (14th lowest)

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11. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.30
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 31.43 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -13.04% (2nd smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 37,397 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 356 (10th highest)

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10. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21.14 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 21.31% (6th smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 20,141 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 329 (21st highest)

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9. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 8.29 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.72% (8th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,774 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 375 (6th highest)

8. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9.71 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 7.94% (2nd smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 7,383 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 352 (12th highest)

7. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.48
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21.57 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -24.50% (5th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 15,224 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 341 (19th highest)

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6. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.51
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.86 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 44.44% (7th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 8,501 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 292 (18th lowest)

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5. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.52
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 35.14 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 117.70% (3rd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 26,042 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 385 (4th highest)

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4. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.61
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 25.71 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 36.36% (8th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 7,399 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 177 (7th lowest)

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3. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.73
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9.71 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 518.18% (2nd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,276 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 170 (6th lowest)

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2. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.82
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 59.00 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 22.92% (7th smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 29,681 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 414 (2nd highest)

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1. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.71
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 52.00 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 810.00% (the highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,495 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 346 (16th highest)

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