COVID Deaths Are Highest in These 10 States

By Soo Kim On 12/15/20 at 12:02 PM EST

News Coronavirus United States Deaths Fatalities

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.