Average Daily COVID Cases Are Highest in These 6 States

Total confirmed coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surpassed 14.1 million. The seven-day average of cases in the country has been rising sharply since early October, after declining from late July and flattening out from late August, according to data compiled by Worldometer.

Here we look at six states that reported the highest average daily cases per 100,000 people in the last seven days, according to the latest report Thursday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Case data below is from Johns Hopkins University and the CDC, while the population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

South Dakota

• Average daily cases per 100,000 in last 7 days: 98.1
• Total confirmed cases: 83,348
• Total population: 884,659

The seven-day average of cases in South Dakota statistically declined in the recent two-week period from November 30 to December 3. However, the figure rose sharply from early August, after peaking at 1,458 on November 11, after remaining flat from late March, according to Johns Hopkins.

Minnesota

• Average daily cases per 100,000 in last 7 days: 97.2
• Total confirmed cases: 333,626
• Total population: 5,639,632

The average case count in Minnesota also statistically declined in the latest two-week period, However, the figure has been rising sharply from mid-September, peaking at 7,052 on November 17, after flattening out for months from late April, according to Johns Hopkins.

Wyoming

• Average daily cases per 100,000 in last 7 days: 92.6
• Total confirmed cases: 35,046
• Total population: 578,759

The average case tally in Wyoming statistically decreased in the latest 14-day window. But the figure rose sharply from early September, peaking at 891 on November 20, after remaining flat from late March, according to Johns Hopkins.

Nebraska

• Average daily cases per 100,000 in last 7 days: 92.2
• Total confirmed cases: 134,710
• Total population: 1,934,408

The seven-day average of cases statistically increased in the recent two-week period. However, the figure declined from mid-November, when it peaked at 2,391 on November 17, after increasing sharply from early October. The figure flattened out from mid-April to late September, according to Johns Hopkins.

Rhode Island

• Average daily cases per 100,000 in last 7 days: 90.4
• Total confirmed cases: 60,722
• Total population: 1,059,361

The average case count in Rhode Island has been rising sharply since early October, peaking at 1,692 on December 3, after flattening out from early June, according to Johns Hopkins.

New Mexico

• Average daily cases per 100,000 in last 7 days: 87.7
• Total confirmed cases: 102,862
• Total population: 2,096,829

The average case tally in New Mexico statistically dropped in the latest 14-day period. The figure has been rising sharply since late September, peaking at 2,671 on November 20, after flattening out for months since mid-April, according to Johns Hopkins.

The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the spread of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.

The wider picture

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 65.3 million people since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.

More than 1.5 million people have died worldwide and more than 42 million have recovered as of Friday, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the number of current COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S.

The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the distribution of COVID-19 deaths among the U.S. population.