Special Report
This Is the Most Dangerous State for COVID Right Now
Published:
COVID-19 daily cases across the United States have remained largely flat in the past six weeks, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. Nationwide, about 109,000 cases a day have been reported over the past seven days – about 232 per 100,000 people. Based on this per capita measure, the most dangerous state for COVID-19 is Colorado.
Though cases remain relatively flat nationwide, new omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are taking hold. Both are more transmissible and are better able to evade antibodies in people who had previously been sick, even with an earlier omicron variant, or those who had been vaccinated. In addition, these versions could present with more symptoms and better resist treatments.
CDC data shows both account for about 50% of cases nationwide, and the expectation is that BA.5 will take over. With public health experts concerned about a winter surge, especially with these virus versions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week voted in favor of omicron boosters. Both Moderna and Pfizer have agreed to now quickly work on a version of the booster to be delivered in the fall.
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 June 30. (These are countries doing the best job handling COVID.)
Colorado, New Mexico, and Hawaii are the three most dangerous states for COVID-19. But while cases in Colorado and Hawaii declined in the past two weeks, cases in New Mexico have jumped 44% over that time period. Colorado, the most dangerous state for COVID-19 reported 3,847 average daily cases in the past seven days, or 67.5 cases per 100,000 people — the most of all states.
By contrast, Connecticut, the least dangerous state, reported just 11 cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days, for a seven-day average of 394 daily cases. Cases in the state declined over 37%, the fourth highest decline.
Click here to see the most dangerous states for COVID-19 right now
Cases in North Carolina declined the most, dropping 60% in the past 14 days to an average daily cases of 2,958, or 28.5 per 100,000. Meanwhile, cases in North Dakota increased the most, jumping 157% in the past 14 days to a seven-day average of 163 cases, or 21.4 per 100,000. (These are the largest cases of COVID-19 relief fraud.)
50. Connecticut
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 11.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 393.7 (12th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -37.2% (4th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 825,075 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,094 (8th lowest)
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49. Nebraska
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 12.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 248.4 (9th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -27.1% (6th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 497,100 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,766 (18th lowest)
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48. Vermont
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 14.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 89.7 (the lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -12.5% (10th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 126,014 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 20,120 (3rd lowest)
47. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 14.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 197.1 (5th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -2.5% (5th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 331,496 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,438 (12th lowest)
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46. Michigan
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 15.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,525.9 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -42.1% (3rd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,592,078 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,931 (19th lowest)
45. South Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 15.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 138.7 (2nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 0.2% (the lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 243,269 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,574 (21st highest)
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44. Maine
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 17.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 234.4 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -3.3% (6th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 269,352 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 20,125 (4th lowest)
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43. Iowa
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 18.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 568.4 (14th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -0.2% (the lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 795,105 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,192 (15th lowest)
42. Ohio
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 19.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,308.4 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -11.4% (11th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,831,228 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,220 (10th lowest)
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41. Kansas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 20.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 594.9 (15th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -11.5% (11th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 801,946 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,544 (22nd highest)
40. North Dakota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 21.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 162.6 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 157.5% (the highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 249,237 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 32,791 (3rd highest)
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39. Indiana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 22.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,480.7 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 19.0% (13th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,769,015 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,435 (22nd lowest)
38. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 22.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,870.3 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 9.7% (11th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,997,831 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 23,408 (9th lowest)
37. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 23.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 247.9 (8th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -18.8% (8th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 382,068 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 36,136 (the highest)
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36. Delaware
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 23.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 227.3 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 15.7% (12th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 284,334 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,399 (11th highest)
35. Georgia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 25.0
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,632.1 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 3.8% (4th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,626,597 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,969 (14th lowest)
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34. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 25.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 992.7 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 41.5% (10th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,070,735 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,155 (24th highest)
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33. Montana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 26.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 280.4 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -0.5% (2nd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 285,017 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,830 (25th lowest)
32. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 26.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,549.3 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -3.9% (7th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,721,421 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,610 (9th highest)
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31. Missouri
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 26.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,644.7 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 6.6% (10th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,496,296 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,424 (11th lowest)
30. Minnesota
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 27.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,556.3 (22nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 2.8% (3rd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,548,208 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,591 (20th highest)
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29. Arkansas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 27.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 837.1 (18th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 34.7% (11th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 861,403 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 28,582 (13th highest)
28. New York
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,482.0 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 4.0% (5th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 5,583,899 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 28,574 (14th highest)
27. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,962.0 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 6.0% (7th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,919,453 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,809 (18th highest)
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26. North Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 28.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,957.9 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -59.8% (the highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,846,859 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,417 (23rd highest)
25. Wyoming
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 29.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 168.6 (4th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -51.9% (2nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 163,340 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 28,272 (15th highest)
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24. Maryland
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 29.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,798.0 (19th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 28.9% (13th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,131,371 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 18,723 (the lowest)
23. Idaho
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 531.3 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 44.0% (7th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 461,626 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,315 (21st lowest)
22. Utah
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 968.0 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -9.7% (10th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 975,507 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 30,860 (6th highest)
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21. Arizona
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,196.1 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 4.7% (6th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,109,053 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,408 (10th highest)
20. Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,620.7 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -2.2% (4th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,862,659 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 21,868 (6th lowest)
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19. South Carolina
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 30.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,573.4 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 6.4% (9th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,546,406 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 30,416 (7th highest)
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18. Louisiana
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 31.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,452.3 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 23.7% (14th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,224,503 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,277 (20th lowest)
17. New Jersey
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 32.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,895.7 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -1.3% (3rd lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,478,067 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,817 (17th highest)
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16. Tennessee
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 33.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,249.3 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 27.2% (14th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 2,115,694 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 31,251 (5th highest)
15. Kentucky
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 33.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,509.9 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -16.2% (9th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,399,840 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 31,328 (4th highest)
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14. Nevada
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 35.3
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,071.3 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -21.5% (7th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 769,581 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,362 (17th lowest)
13. Alabama
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 37.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,829.3 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 50.7% (6th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,352,915 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,679 (19th highest)
12. Texas
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 38.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 11,041.1 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 58.3% (3rd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 7,062,949 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 24,608 (13th lowest)
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11. Alaska
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 41.2
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 303.9 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -5.1% (9th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 259,390 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 35,174 (2nd highest)
10. Illinois
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 41.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 5,285.4 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 32.7% (12th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 3,417,093 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,819 (24th lowest)
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9. West Virginia
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 43.7
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 789.4 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 53.0% (5th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 530,612 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 29,383 (12th highest)
8. California
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 46.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 18,515.3 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 6.3% (8th lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 10,010,679 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 25,307 (16th lowest)
7. Washington
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 49.4
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,723.1 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 55.5% (4th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,654,445 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 21,955 (7th lowest)
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6. Mississippi
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 49.8
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,486.7 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 110.3% (2nd highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 831,066 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 27,827 (16th highest)
5. Oregon
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 50.1
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 2,099.6 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 41.7% (9th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 805,978 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 19,232 (2nd lowest)
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4. Florida
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 50.6
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 10,778.0 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 2.4% (2nd lowest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 6,458,505 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 30,323 (8th highest)
3. Hawaii
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 53.9
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 765.0 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -32.6% (5th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 296,007 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 20,838 (5th lowest)
2. New Mexico
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 63.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 1,330.7 (22nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: 43.9% (8th highest increase)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 560,929 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,769 (23rd lowest)
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1. Colorado
> Avg. daily cases per 100,000 (past 7 days): 67.5
> Avg. daily cases (past 7 days): 3,846.9 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new cases: -4.6% (8th lowest decline)
> Total COVID-19 cases: 1,528,939 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 cases per 100,000: 26,844 (25th highest)
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