COVID-19 cases across the United States have been on the rise since the beginning of April, though deaths have been declining since February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases increased in 45 states from two weeks ago, and based on cases per capita, the most dangerous state for COVID-19 is Rhode Island.
The seven-day average of cases nationwide is over 90,000, a 60% increase from two weeks ago, though the case count is likely considerably higher than it appears. With less interest from the public and many people now using at-home testing kits, cases are severely undercounted, experts warn.
To find the most dangerous state for COVID-19, 24/7 Tempo ranked states by average daily cases per 100,000 people over the most recent seven-day period, using data from federal, state, and local sources as of May 14. (This is the city in every state where covid-19 is growing the fastest.)
The five most dangerous states for COVID-19 remained largely the same, with Vermont dropping out of the top five in favor of Maine. Rhode Island reported an average of 708.3 daily cases in the past seven days, an 83% increase from two weeks ago. On a per capita basis, the state reported 67 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days – the most of any state.
Mississippi, which ranked as the least dangerous state two weeks ago, reported the highest jump in COVID-19 cases, though it remained among the least dangerous states for COVID-19. Cases in the state averaged 279.7 a day, or 9.4 per 100,000 people, in the past seven days – the 11th lowest among states. Still, cases spiked 224% from two weeks ago.
Click here to see the most dangerous states for COVID-19 right now
Montana is currently the least dangerous state for COVID-19 with a reported average of only 30 daily new cases in the past seven days, or 2.8 cases per 100,000 – the fewest. Cases in the state dropped nearly 50% in the past two weeks – the largest decline. (These are the largest cases of COVID-19 relief fraud.)
50. Montana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 2.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 30.0 (the lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -49.6% (the highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 274,598 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 2,917,068 (7th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
49. Missouri
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 5.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 355.9 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -23.3% (2nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,428,117 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 87,492,903 (19th highest)
48. Alabama
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 6.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 305.1 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 31.4% (6th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,304,291 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 63,752,062 (23rd highest)
47. Arkansas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 6.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 196.6 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 60.9% (19th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 837,719 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,247,385 (20th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
46. Wyoming
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 7.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 40.9 (2nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 81.0% (19th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 157,031 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 907,226 (2nd lowest)
45. South Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 7.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 64.3 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 62.5% (20th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 238,635 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 2,105,321 (5th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
44. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 7.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 291.9 (12th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 26.5% (4th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,044,179 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 41,172,803 (24th lowest)
43. Idaho
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 8.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 141.6 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 110.4% (4th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 447,540 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 7,850,782 (12th lowest)
42. Louisiana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 8.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 406.6 (18th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 97.6% (6th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,177,409 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 54,867,000 (25th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
41. Nebraska
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 9.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 175.7 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 40.9% (10th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 482,035 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 9,299,747 (14th lowest)
40. Mississippi
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 9.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 279.7 (9th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 224.2% (the highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 800,241 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,899,438 (18th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
39. Texas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 10.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,998.0 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 26.6% (5th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 6,769,833 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 1,943,066,974 (2nd highest)
38. Arizona
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 10.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 784.3 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 133.6% (3rd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,030,925 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 145,650,752 (13th highest)
37. Kansas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 11.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 318.9 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 41.8% (11th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 778,045 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 22,652,819 (17th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
36. Tennessee
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 11.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 808.7 (22nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 86.8% (12th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,038,706 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 138,020,600 (14th highest)
35. Indiana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 12.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 839.1 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 16.6% (2nd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,711,268 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 114,515,967 (17th highest)
[in-text-ad]
34. Georgia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 12.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,322.0 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 54.8% (14th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,530,918 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 266,239,286 (9th highest)
33. South Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 12.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 645.0 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: N/A
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,481,975 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 75,345,491 (22nd highest)
32. Ohio
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 13.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,573.3 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 59.8% (16th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,708,071 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 316,558,389 (7th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
31. New Mexico
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 13.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 283.0 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 60.8% (17th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 525,249 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 11,006,215 (15th lowest)
30. Kentucky
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 13.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 614.4 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 40.1% (9th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,335,247 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 59,664,204 (25th highest)
[in-text-ad]
29. North Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 13.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 104.9 (4th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 96.8% (7th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 242,222 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 1,841,074 (4th lowest)
28. Utah
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 14.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 460.9 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 169.5% (2nd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 935,479 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,571,473 (22nd lowest)
27. Iowa
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 15.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 482.7 (22nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 98.6% (5th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 768,869 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,266,621 (19th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
26. Nevada
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 15.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 466.3 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 67.9% (23rd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 724,364 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 21,980,043 (16th lowest)
25. West Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 18.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 331.1 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 85.1% (14th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 504,510 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 9,110,603 (13th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
24. Colorado
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 20.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,151.6 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -14.0% (2nd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,395,208 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 79,464,965 (21st highest)
23. California
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 21.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 8,626.3 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 38.3% (8th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 9,307,414 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 3,681,737,944 (the highest)
22. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 24.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,111.6 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 90.7% (11th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,849,663 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 364,958,050 (6th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
21. North Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 25.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,639.9 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 59.2% (15th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,691,805 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 279,506,802 (8th highest)
20. Maryland
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 27.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,658.3 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 86.1% (13th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,049,471 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 63,416,573 (24th highest)
[in-text-ad]
19. Florida
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,958.1 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 64.2% (22nd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 5,994,350 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 1,276,756,088 (3rd highest)
24/7 Wall St.
18. Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,441.7 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 70.3% (22nd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,729,894 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 147,346,922 (12th highest)
17. Alaska
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 29.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 217.1 (8th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 5.0% (the lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 247,865 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 1,827,851 (3rd lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
16. Oregon
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,264.6 (19th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 48.9% (12th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 735,464 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 30,821,185 (23rd lowest)
15. Washington
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,287.6 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 17.4% (3rd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,524,078 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 114,848,285 (16th highest)
[in-text-ad]
14. Delaware
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 32.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 318.3 (14th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 82.2% (17th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 265,707 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 2,569,841 (6th lowest)
24/7 Wall St.
13. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 34.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 469.4 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 33.1% (7th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 315,447 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 4,278,906 (11th lowest)
12. Minnesota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 36.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,025.1 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 85.1% (15th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,473,521 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 82,681,901 (20th highest)
[in-text-ad-2]
11. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 37.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,188.3 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 81.8% (18th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,633,341 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 94,955,390 (18th highest)
10. Michigan
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 39.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,957.9 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 91.3% (10th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,472,596 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 247,158,594 (10th highest)
[in-text-ad]
9. Illinois
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 42.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,398.0 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 75.8% (21st highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 3,195,244 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 407,108,594 (5th highest)
24/7 Wall St.
8. New Jersey
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 43.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,908.1 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 60.8% (18th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,300,407 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 204,932,218 (11th highest)
7. Vermont
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 45.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 284.9 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -6.2% (the lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 118,554 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 742,503 (the lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
6. Connecticut
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 47.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,707.4 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 93.1% (9th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 775,101 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,691,762 (21st lowest)
5. Maine
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 49.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 666.9 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 96.5% (8th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 253,678 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 3,395,236 (8th lowest)
[in-text-ad]
4. New York
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 51.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 10,059.4 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 50.2% (13th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 5,257,102 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 1,027,353,860 (4th highest)
24/7 Wall St.
3. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 55.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,858.1 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 62.5% (21st lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,797,308 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 124,052,876 (15th highest)
2. Hawaii
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 56.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 807.0 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 77.0% (20th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 251,759 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 3,576,214 (9th lowest)
[in-text-ad-2]
1. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 67.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 708.3 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 83.0% (16th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 360,689 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 3,813,619 (10th lowest)
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
