Special Report

Counties Where the COVID-19 Increase Is the Worst In Every State

THEPALMER / E+ via Getty Images

The COVID increase detected in the U.S. this summer has continued to slow in recent weeks. 

ER visits, hospital admissions, and deaths from COVID decreased across the U.S. over the week ending Sept. 16, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, new data on COVID deaths released by the CDC today indicated a slight increase over the past week. (Here are 25 college towns emerging as COVID hotspots.)

There were 19,674 new hospital admissions and 615 deaths linked to COVID across the U.S. over the week ending Sept. 16. For reference, in 2021, weekly hospital admissions peaked at over 150,000 and weekly deaths rose to 25,000 across the U.S.  

While recent levels of COVID are nowhere near the point of over-stressing health systems like those seen during the worst of the pandemic, the start of the school year and increased travel plans during the fall months bring greater risk for respiratory illnesses. Also, the likelihood of infection varies widely across the country and the odds of needing to visit the hospital depend greatly on a variety of factors. 

24/7 Tempo reviewed data on COVID-19 hospitalizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Each state’s counties were ranked based on the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions for every 100,000 county residents during the week Sept. 10-16, 2023. (COVID aside, as of last year, these were the healthiest counties in every state.)

Click here to see the counties where the COVID-19 increase is the worst in every state.

Click here for a detailed methodology.

Data on the percentage of staffed inpatient hospital beds occupied by confirmed COVID-19 patients over the same time period also came from the CDC. Data on total population is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

Pgiam / iStock via Getty Images

Alabama: Jefferson County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 10.0 (county); 6.9 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.0% (county); 3.3% (state)
> County population: 672,550
> County seat: Birmingham

[in-text-ad]

DMartinez-Photo / iStock via Getty Images

Alaska: Fairbanks North Star Borough
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 8.1 (county); 4.9 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.9% (county); 2.9% (state)
> County population: 97,149
> County seat: Fairbanks

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Arizona: Mohave County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 12.3 (county); 4.0 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.7% (county); 1.8% (state)
> County population: 211,274
> County seat: Kingman

Arkansas: Arkansas County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 33.1 (county); 8.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.1% (county); 3.7% (state)
> County population: 17,273
> County seat: DeWitt

[in-text-ad-2]

JasonDoiy / iStock via Getty Images

California: Sacramento County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 10.5 (county); 6.7 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 4.7% (county); 4.3% (state)
> County population: 1,571,767
> County seat: Sacramento

Colorado: Boulder County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 10.3 (county); 5.2 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.8% (county); 2.0% (state)
> County population: 328,713
> County seat: Boulder

[in-text-ad]

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Connecticut: New Haven County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 7.1 (county); 5.9 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.6% (county); 3.3% (state)
> County population: 864,751
> County seat: New Haven

Robert Kirk / iStock via Getty Images

Delaware: New Castle County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 5.0 (county); 4.5 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.0% (county); 3.6% (state)
> County population: 567,769
> County seat: Wilmington

Florida: Alachua County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 18.0 (county); 9.4 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 4.7% (county); 4.2% (state)
> County population: 276,171
> County seat: Gainesville

[in-text-ad-2]

Georgia: Rabun County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 23.3 (county); 5.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 4.1% (county); 3.4% (state)
> County population: 16,731
> County seat: Clayton

buraktumler / iStock via Getty Images

Hawaii: Honolulu County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 7.1 (county); 6.4 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.6% (county); 4.6% (state)
> County population: 1,015,167
> County seat: Honolulu

[in-text-ad]

Idaho: Payette County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 7.2 (county); 4.5 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.0% (county); 3.0% (state)
> County population: 24,928
> County seat: Payette

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Illinois: Henderson County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 15.3 (county); 5.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.3% (county); 2.7% (state)
> County population: 6,485
> County seat: Oquawka

Geoff Eccles / iStock via Getty Images

Indiana: Tippecanoe County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 9.2 (county); 4.4 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.7% (county); 2.2% (state)
> County population: 185,961
> County seat: Lafayette

[in-text-ad-2]

Iowa: Lucas County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 19.9 (county); 4.9 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.5% (county); 2.5% (state)
> County population: 8,650
> County seat: Chariton

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

Kansas: Mitchell County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 16.3 (county); 4.1 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.3% (county); 2.4% (state)
> County population: 5,884
> County seat: Beloit

[in-text-ad]

Kentucky: Letcher County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 60.3 (county); 7.1 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 5.5% (county); 3.2% (state)
> County population: 21,784
> County seat: Whitesburg

Louisiana: Winn Parish
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 14.4 (county); 5.9 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.6% (county); 3.0% (state)
> County population: 13,875
> County seat: Winnfield

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Maine: Aroostook County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 8.9 (county); 3.5 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.5% (county); 2.9% (state)
> County population: 67,272
> County seat: Houlton

[in-text-ad-2]

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Maryland: Allegany County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 9.2 (county); 4.5 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.2% (county); 3.9% (state)
> County population: 68,684
> County seat: Cumberland

DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Massachusetts: Worcester County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 7.2 (county); 6.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.8% (county); 2.5% (state)
> County population: 856,858
> County seat: Worcester

[in-text-ad]

CT757fan / E+ via Getty Images

Michigan: Grand Traverse County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 10.1 (county); 4.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.9% (county); 2.6% (state)
> County population: 94,562
> County seat: Traverse City

Minnesota: Otter Tail County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 10.8 (county); 3.7 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 6.3% (county); 2.4% (state)
> County population: 59,728
> County seat: Fergus Falls

Mississippi: Alcorn County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 23.1 (county); 5.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 7.0% (county); 2.9% (state)
> County population: 34,964
> County seat: Corinth

[in-text-ad-2]

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

Missouri: Buchanan County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 14.6 (county); 7.2 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.2% (county); 3.2% (state)
> County population: 85,545
> County seat: St. Joseph

Montana: Fergus County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 17.3 (county); 8.1 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.0% (county); 2.7% (state)
> County population: 11,464
> County seat: Lewistown

[in-text-ad]

Cheri Alguire / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Nebraska: Hall County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 11.5 (county); 4.0 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.2% (county); 1.7% (state)
> County population: 62,616
> County seat: Grand Island

Donyanedomam / iStock via Getty Images

Nevada: Washoe County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 6.2 (county); 4.5 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.8% (county); 2.4% (state)
> County population: 479,758
> County seat: Reno

sbossert / iStock via Getty Images

New Hampshire: Cheshire County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 27.0 (county); 5.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 8.4% (county); 2.3% (state)
> County population: 76,473
> County seat: Keene

[in-text-ad-2]

New Jersey: Cumberland County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 8.0 (county); 5.0 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.5% (county); 3.1% (state)
> County population: 154,921
> County seat: Bridgeton

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

New Mexico: San Juan County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 4.9 (county); 2.1 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.8% (county); 1.9% (state)
> County population: 122,912
> County seat: Aztec

[in-text-ad]

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

New York: Clinton County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 10.8 (county); 7.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.9% (county); 4.0% (state)
> County population: 80,095
> County seat: Plattsburgh

North Carolina: Pitt County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 12.6 (county); 5.8 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 4.6% (county); 4.0% (state)
> County population: 170,600
> County seat: Greenville

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

North Dakota: Stark County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 7.8 (county); 3.7 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.8% (county); 1.3% (state)
> County population: 32,710
> County seat: Dickinson

[in-text-ad-2]

Oralleff / iStock via Getty Images

Ohio: Washington County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 13.9 (county); 5.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.2% (county); 2.4% (state)
> County population: 59,942
> County seat: Marietta

Oklahoma: Pontotoc County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 17.2 (county); 4.7 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.4% (county); 2.6% (state)
> County population: 38,102
> County seat: Ada

[in-text-ad]

Oregon: Coos County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 9.5 (county); 5.8 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.7% (county); 4.2% (state)
> County population: 64,619
> County seat: Coquille

Pennsylvania: Cambria County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 11.0 (county); 4.9 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.6% (county); 2.3% (state)
> County population: 134,048
> County seat: Ebensburg

Image Source / Image Source via Getty Images

Rhode Island: Newport County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 6.2 (county); 4.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.4% (county); 3.3% (state)
> County population: 85,525
> County seat: Newport

[in-text-ad-2]

South Carolina: Horry County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 11.5 (county); 7.0 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.7% (county); 4.0% (state)
> County population: 344,865
> County seat: Conway

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

South Dakota: Beadle County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 12.0 (county); 5.2 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.3% (county); 3.0% (state)
> County population: 18,959
> County seat: Huron

[in-text-ad]

Rebecca-Arnott / iStock via Getty Images

Tennessee: Washington County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 18.7 (county); 5.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 3.9% (county); 3.0% (state)
> County population: 132,067
> County seat: Jonesborough

Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Texas: Navarro County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 24.3 (county); 6.4 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 10.4% (county); 3.1% (state)
> County population: 51,908
> County seat: Corsicana

markrhiggins / iStock via Getty Images

Utah: Iron County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 6.5 (county); 4.2 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.6% (county); 2.3% (state)
> County population: 55,839
> County seat: Parowan

[in-text-ad-2]

BrianScantlebury / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Vermont: Windham County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 27.0 (county); 4.2 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 8.4% (county); 2.7% (state)
> County population: 45,811
> County seat: Newfane

Virginia: Prince George County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 12.3 (county); 5.2 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 2.9% (county); 3.2% (state)
> County population: 42,170
> County seat: Prince George

[in-text-ad]

Piepereit / iStock via Getty Images

Washington: Whatcom County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 9.6 (county); 4.6 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 7.4% (county); 3.5% (state)
> County population: 224,533
> County seat: Bellingham

John M. Chase / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

West Virginia: Logan County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 14.1 (county); 8.0 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 4.2% (county); 3.2% (state)
> County population: 32,786
> County seat: Logan

Wisconsin: Oneida County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 8.7 (county); 4.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 1.3% (county); 1.9% (state)
> County population: 37,468
> County seat: Rhinelander

[in-text-ad-2]

Wyoming: Goshen County
> New COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 week Sep 10-16: 11.5 (county); 4.3 (state)
> Inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients: 0.9% (county); 2.8% (state)
> County population: 12,642
> County seat: Torrington

Methodology

To determine the counties where the COVID-19 surge is the worst in every state, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data on COVID-19 hospitalizations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Counties were ranked based on the number of new COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 residents during the week of Sept. 10-16, 2023. Supplemental data on the percentage of staffed inpatient hospital beds occupied by confirmed COVID-19 patients over the same time period also came from the CDC. Data on total population is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

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.