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.)
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.