COVID Deaths Are Highest in These 10 States

The U.S. coronavirus death toll hit another grim milestone on Monday, with over 300,000 total reported deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University (JHU).

Here we look at 10 states that reported the most number of deaths per 100,000 people in the last seven days, according to the latest report Monday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Death data below is from the CDC and JHU, while the population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau. Average death tolls reflect a seven-day average of fatalities, according to Worldometer.

North Dakota

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 2.5
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 21 on December 11
• Total confirmed deaths: 1,157
• Total population: 762,062

North Dakota recorded the country's highest number of deaths per 100,000 people in the past week. The state's average death toll has been rising sharply since early September, after flattening out for most of the outbreak since late March, according to Worldometer.

Iowa

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 2.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 86 on December 10
• Total confirmed deaths: 3,269
• Total population: 3,155,070

The average death count in Iowa has been increasing sharply since early November, after flattening out for months since late March, according to Worldometer.

South Dakota

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 2.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 23 on December 8
• Total confirmed deaths: 1,259
• Total population: 884,659

South Dakota's average death tally has been climbing on a steep incline from early October, after staying flat for months from April, according to Worldometer.

Wyoming

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.6
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 9 on December 11 and 13
• Total confirmed deaths: 321
• Total population: 578,759

The average death count in Wyoming has been rising sharply since late October, after remaining flat from late April, according to Worldometer.

Colorado

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.5
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 87 on December 14
• Total confirmed deaths: 3,969
• Total population: 5,758,736

The average death toll in Colorado hit a record high on Monday. The figure has been rising sharply from early November, after declining from late April and remaining flat since early July, according to Worldometer.

Arkansas

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 41 on December 12
• Total confirmed deaths: 2,990
• Total population: 3,017,804

The average death count in Arkansas has been gradually increasing throughout the outbreak and rose sharply from early December, according to Worldometer.

Illinois

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 183 on December 11
• Total confirmed deaths: 15,454
• Total population: 12,671,821

The average death toll in Illinois has been rising on a steep incline from early November, after declining from mid-May and flattening out from early July, according to Worldometer.

Kansas

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 41 on December 12 and 13
• Total confirmed deaths: 2,109
• Total population: 2,913,314

The average death count in Kansas has been rising sharply since early October, after flattening out from late March, according to Worldometer.

New Mexico

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 32 on December 14
• Total confirmed deaths: 1,978
• Total population: 2,096,829

The average death count in New Mexico reached a record level of 32 on Monday. The figure has been rising sharply since early November, after remaining flat for months since late March, according to Worldometer.

Pennsylvania

• Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1.4
• Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 180 on December 14
• Total confirmed deaths: 12,552
• Total population: 12,801,989

Pennsylvania's average death tally hit 180 on Monday, the highest level since the outbreak began. The figure has been climbing sharply early November, after declining from early May and flattening out from late June, according to Worldometer.

The wider picture

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 73 million people, including over 16.5 million in the U.S., since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.

More than 1.6 million people have died worldwide and over 41.4 million have recovered as of Tuesday, according to John Hopkins University.

The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the countries with the highest COVID-19 death tolls.

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