Coronavirus Cases Are Rising Fastest in These Five States

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surpassed 6.1 million, according to the latest report Thursday by Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Several states have reported a rise in new cases per capita (100,000 people) in the latest two-week period, including in the Midwest and the southern region of the country.

Here we look at five states that reported the greatest increase in new cases per capita in the week ending September 2 (week one) from the previous seven days (week two).

All case data below is sourced from The New York Times, unless otherwise stated. All population data below is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau.

1. Iowa

Week-to-week change in new cases per capita: 3,836

• New cases per capita in week one: 8,241
• New cases per capita in week two: 4,405
• Total population: 3,155,070 (as of July 2019)
• Total confirmed cases: 66,463

Average daily new cases in Iowa mostly flattened out from late April to mid-August, after which the average daily case count mostly increased on a sharp incline. It peaked at 1,741 on August 27, before decreasing through the rest of August, according to the latest report Wednesday by JHU.

2. Alabama

Week-to-week change in new cases per capita: 3,493

• New cases per capita in week one: 10,374
• New cases per capita in week two: 6,881
• Total population: 4,903,185 (as of July 2019)
• Total confirmed cases: 128,239

Average daily new infections in Alabama mostly increased on a sharp incline from late March through late July, peaking at 2,106 on July 24. The average daily case tally mostly declined through mid-August before mostly rising again, according to the latest report Wednesday from JHU.

3. South Dakota

Week-to-week change in new cases per capita: 1,074

• New cases per capita in week one: 2,190
• New cases per capita in week two: 1,116
• Total population: 884,659 (as of July 2019)
• Total confirmed cases: 14,003

Average daily new cases in South Dakota mostly flattened out from late May to mid-August. The average daily case count increased on a steep incline from then, peaking at 457 on August 28, according to the latest report Wednesday by JHU.

4. Nebraska

Week-to-week change in new cases per capita: 641

• New cases per capita in week one: 2,195
• New cases per capita in week two: 1,554
• Total population: 1,934,408 (as of July 2019)
• Total confirmed cases: 34,995

Average daily new cases in Nebraska peaked at 497 on April 30 and mostly decreased through early June before mostly flattening through early July. The average daily case tally flattened again from late July through August, according to the latest report Wednesday from JHU.

5. North Dakota

Week-to-week change in new cases per capita: 324

• New cases per capita in week one: 1,771
• New cases per capita in week two: 1,447
• Total population: 762,062 (as of July 2019)
• Total confirmed cases: 12,271

Average daily new infections in North Dakota mostly flattened from mid-April to mid-June, before mostly increasing through late August. The average daily case count peaked at 339 on August 28, according to the latest report Wednesday from JHU.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 26 million people across the globe. Over 863,000 have died, while more than 17.2 million have reportedly recovered, as of Thursday, according to JHU.

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

The graphic below, provided by Statista, illustrates countries with the most COVID-19 cases.