The U.S. has reported more than 81.6 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of May 17. More than 992,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 — the highest death toll of any country.

The virus has spread throughout the country in a way that has been difficult to predict, surging in one region, then showing signs of improvement, and then reappearing in other regions. Though local outbreaks may ebb and flow, the current surge in cases has been felt nearly nationwide, leading to new travel restrictions and business closures around the country.

Nationwide, there were an average of 24.3 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending May 17. Cumulatively, the U.S. has reported 24,885.1 cases per 100,000 Americans, and 302.3 deaths per 100,000 Americans.

The coronavirus has spread to different parts of the country in different stages throughout the pandemic. In the spring, the worst hit states were in the Northeast, as New York City became the epicenter of the nation’s crisis. The virus spread to states throughout the Sun Belt in the summer, and hit states in the Midwest and West during the fall. Now, nearly every state is categorized as a COVID-19 hotspot, according to definitions based on new cases per capita from the nonprofit health organization Kaiser Family Foundation.

While the nation’s largest metropolitan areas were hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, nearly every city has suffered from the virus. Outbreaks are particularly likely to occur in places where large numbers of people tend to congregate, leaving cities with high concentrations of colleges, correctional facilities, and nursing homes particularly at risk.

To determine the metropolitan area in each state with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metropolitan areas according to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of May 17. Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan area level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

Alabama: Decatur
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Decatur: 43,849 (28,796.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Alabama: 1,305,665 (26,628.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Decatur: 12.0% (April 2020)
Decatur population: 152,271 (119.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Alabama where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Alaska: Anchorage
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Anchorage: 141,237 (35,406.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Alaska: 247,865 (33,882.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Anchorage: 14.8% (April 2020)
Anchorage population: 398,900 (15.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Alaska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Arizona: Flagstaff
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Flagstaff: 44,091 (31,209.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Arizona: 2,030,925 (27,902.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Flagstaff: 17.9% (April 2020)
Flagstaff population: 141,274 (7.6 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Arizona where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Arkansas: Jonesboro
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Jonesboro: 45,834 (34,923.5 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Arkansas: 838,610 (27,788.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jonesboro: 9.3% (April 2020)
Jonesboro population: 131,241 (89.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Arkansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

California: El Centro
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in El Centro: 66,715 (36,920.1 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in California: 9,334,767 (23,625.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in El Centro: 30.0% (April 2020)
El Centro population: 180,701 (43.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in California where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Colorado: Pueblo
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Pueblo: 47,261 (28,473.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Colorado: 1,407,405 (24,439.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Pueblo: 11.8% (April 2020)
Pueblo population: 165,982 (69.6 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Colorado where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Connecticut: New Haven-Milford
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in New Haven: 205,522 (23,967.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Connecticut: 779,460 (21,862.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in New Haven: 9.5% (July 2020)
New Haven population: 857,513 (1,418.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Connecticut where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Delaware: Dover
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Dover: 51,836 (29,335.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Delaware: 267,265 (27,446.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dover: 17.3% (May 2020)
Dover population: 176,699 (301.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Delaware where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Florida: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Miami: 2,211,521 (36,310.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Florida: 6,021,780 (28,037.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Miami: 13.8% (April 2020)
Miami population: 6,090,660 (1,199.6 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Florida where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Georgia: Dalton
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Dalton: 45,563 (31,649.5 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Georgia: 2,530,918 (23,837.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Dalton: 20.3% (April 2020)
Dalton population: 143,961 (226.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Georgia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Hawaii: Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Kahului: 32,001 (19,280.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Hawaii: 251,759 (17,781.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kahului: 34.8% (April 2020)
Kahului population: 165,979 (142.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Hawaii where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Idaho: Boise City
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Boise City: 204,017 (28,704.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Idaho: 447,913 (25,064.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Boise City: 12.6% (April 2020)
Boise City population: 710,743 (60.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Idaho where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Illinois: Danville
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Danville: 28,275 (36,454.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Illinois: 3,209,341 (25,326.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Danville: 18.4% (April 2020)
Danville population: 77,563 (86.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Illinois where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Indiana: Evansville, IN-KY
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Evansville: 98,811 (31,372.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Indiana: 1,713,834 (25,457.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Evansville: 15.2% (April 2020)
Evansville population: 314,960 (215.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Indiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Iowa: Sioux City, IA-NE-SD
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Sioux City: 40,926 (28,451.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Iowa: 770,128 (24,409.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Sioux City: 9.8% (April 2020)
Sioux City population: 143,846 (69.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Iowa where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Kansas: Wichita
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Wichita: 179,981 (28,223.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Kansas: 780,892 (26,804.3 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Wichita: 18.2% (April 2020)
Wichita population: 637,690 (153.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Kansas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Kentucky: Bowling Green
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Bowling Green: 56,189 (32,200.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Kentucky: 1,337,573 (29,938.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bowling Green: 18.8% (April 2020)
Bowling Green population: 174,498 (108.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Kentucky where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Louisiana: Monroe
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Monroe: 60,466 (29,719.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Louisiana: 1,178,806 (25,357.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Monroe: 12.8% (April 2020)
Monroe population: 203,457 (89.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the parishes in Louisiana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Maine: Lewiston-Auburn
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Lewiston: 23,289 (21,643.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Maine: 254,855 (18,959.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lewiston: 10.3% (July 2020)
Lewiston population: 107,602 (230.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Maine where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Maryland: Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Hagerstown: 75,982 (26,834.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Maryland: 1,054,547 (17,443.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hagerstown: 12.0% (April 2020)
Hagerstown population: 283,147 (280.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Maryland where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Massachusetts: Springfield
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Springfield: 181,287 (25,917.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Massachusetts: 1,809,309 (26,250.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Springfield: 17.1% (June 2020)
Springfield population: 699,480 (379.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Massachusetts where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Michigan: Bay City
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Bay City: 27,496 (26,412.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Michigan: 2,472,596 (24,758.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bay City: 25.6% (April 2020)
Bay City population: 104,104 (235.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Michigan where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Minnesota: St. Cloud
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in St. Cloud: 65,991 (33,231.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Minnesota: 1,479,047 (26,225.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in St. Cloud: 9.4% (May 2020)
St. Cloud population: 198,581 (113.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Minnesota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Mississippi: Hattiesburg
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Hattiesburg: 49,651 (29,523.1 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Mississippi: 801,527 (26,931.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Hattiesburg: 13.3% (April 2020)
Hattiesburg population: 168,177 (83.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Mississippi where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Missouri: St. Joseph, MO-KS
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in St. Joseph: 33,702 (26,710.9 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Missouri: 1,433,482 (23,356.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in St. Joseph: 7.5% (April 2020)
St. Joseph population: 126,173 (76.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Missouri where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Montana: Great Falls
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Great Falls: 25,246 (30,929.3 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Montana: 275,113 (25,740.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Great Falls: 12.6% (April 2020)
Great Falls population: 81,625 (30.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Montana where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Nebraska: Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Omaha: 247,436 (26,555.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Nebraska: 482,305 (24,933.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Omaha: 10.2% (April 2020)
Omaha population: 931,779 (214.2 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Nebraska where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Nevada: Carson City
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Carson City: 15,052 (27,480.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Nevada: 724,922 (23,535.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Carson City: 21.0% (April 2020)
Carson City population: 54,773 (378.6 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Nevada where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New Hampshire: Manchester-Nashua
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Manchester: 101,728 (24,629.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in New Hampshire: 316,691 (23,291.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Manchester: 17.5% (April 2020)
Manchester population: 413,035 (471.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New Hampshire where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New Jersey: Vineland-Bridgeton
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Vineland: 40,465 (26,638.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in New Jersey: 2,322,204 (26,144.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Vineland: 17.5% (June 2020)
Vineland population: 151,906 (314.1 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New Jersey where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New Mexico: Farmington
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Farmington: 40,943 (32,362.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in New Mexico: 526,137 (25,092.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Farmington: 14.5% (July 2020)
Farmington population: 126,515 (22.9 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New Mexico where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

New York: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in New York: 5,461,958 (28,308.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in New York: 5,293,420 (27,210.5 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in New York: 17.2% (June 2020)
New York population: 19,294,236 (2,885.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in New York where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

North Carolina: Greenville
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Greenville: 52,792 (29,586.5 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in North Carolina: 2,691,805 (25,665.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Greenville: 10.5% (April 2020)
Greenville population: 178,433 (273.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in North Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

North Dakota: Bismarck
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Bismarck: 46,690 (36,618.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in North Dakota: 242,462 (31,816.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bismarck: 9.5% (April 2020)
Bismarck population: 127,503 (29.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in North Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Ohio: Lima
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Lima: 27,636 (26,785.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Ohio: 2,724,041 (23,304.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lima: 20.4% (April 2020)
Lima population: 103,175 (256.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Ohio where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Oklahoma: Lawton
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Lawton: 34,637 (27,140.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Oklahoma: 1,044,868 (26,405.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Lawton: 19.5% (April 2020)
Lawton population: 127,620 (75.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Oklahoma where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Oregon: Bend
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Bend: 47,906 (25,721.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Oregon: 738,830 (17,517.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Bend: 18.3% (April 2020)
Bend population: 186,251 (61.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Oregon where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Pennsylvania: York-Hanover
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in York: 120,372 (27,015.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Pennsylvania: 2,858,692 (22,330.1 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in York: 15.3% (April 2020)
York population: 445,565 (492.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Pennsylvania where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Rhode Island: Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Providence: 504,781 (31,192.7 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Rhode Island: 362,446 (34,213.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Providence: 18.5% (April 2020)
Providence population: 1,618,268 (1,019.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Rhode Island where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

South Carolina: Greenville-Anderson
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Greenville: 296,141 (33,053.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in South Carolina: 1,481,975 (28,783.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Greenville: 12.5% (April 2020)
Greenville population: 895,942 (330.5 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in South Carolina where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

South Dakota: Sioux Falls
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Sioux Falls: 76,335 (29,433.4 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in South Dakota: 238,635 (26,974.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Sioux Falls: 10.7% (April 2020)
Sioux Falls population: 259,348 (100.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in South Dakota where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Tennessee: Jackson
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Jackson: 58,772 (32,936.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Tennessee: 2,039,822 (29,869.2 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Jackson: 14.0% (April 2020)
Jackson population: 178,442 (104.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Tennessee where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Texas: Laredo
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Laredo: 96,169 (35,159.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Texas: 6,785,855 (23,402.8 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Laredo: 14.3% (May 2020)
Laredo population: 273,526 (81.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Texas where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Utah: Provo-Orem
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Provo: 206,182 (33,428.2 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Utah: 938,864 (29,285.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Provo: 8.1% (April 2020)
Provo population: 616,791 (114.3 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Utah where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Vermont: Burlington-South Burlington
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Burlington: 46,086 (21,064.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Vermont: 119,123 (19,090.6 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Burlington: 14.8% (April 2020)
Burlington population: 218,784 (174.7 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Vermont where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Virginia: Staunton
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Staunton: 30,692 (25,229.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Virginia: 1,736,614 (20,345.7 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Staunton: 9.9% (April 2020)
Staunton population: 121,651 (121.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Washington: Kennewick-Richland
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Kennewick: 85,674 (29,591.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Washington: 1,530,430 (20,097.9 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Kennewick: 13.7% (April 2020)
Kennewick population: 289,527 (98.4 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Washington where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

West Virginia: Beckley
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Beckley: 36,311 (30,557.6 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in West Virginia: 505,528 (28,208.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Beckley: 18.4% (April 2020)
Beckley population: 118,828 (93.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in West Virginia where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Wisconsin: Green Bay
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Green Bay: 103,137 (32,290.8 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Wisconsin: 1,639,365 (28,156.0 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Green Bay: 13.3% (April 2020)
Green Bay population: 319,401 (170.8 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Wisconsin where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Wyoming: Casper
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Casper: 22,380 (27,859.0 per 100,000)
COVID-19 cases as of May 17 in Wyoming: 157,031 (27,132.4 per 100,000)
Peak pandemic unemployment in Casper: 12.6% (April 2020)
Casper population: 80,333 (15.0 per sq. mi.)

These are all the counties in Wyoming where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).

Click here to see all coronavirus data for every state.

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