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States Where COVID-19 Is the Worst Right Now: UPDATE

States Where COVID-19 Is the Worst Right Now: UPDATE

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The flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and COVID-19 infection rates are declining as the winter respiratory virus season winds down. While flu had the highest positivity rate in mid-December, COVID-19 still accounts for the highest rate of hospitalizations nationwide, averaging 2.8 per 100,000 people.

Hospitalization rates vary across states due to factors like population density, climate, and vaccine hesitancy. To determine the states with the worst COVID-19 situation, the CDC data on new hospital admissions per 100,000 residents was analyzed for the week of March 17-23, 2024.

Hawaii had the highest rate at 4.8 per 100,000, slightly up from the previous week’s 4.6. Meanwhile, Nebraska, which was the top state the prior week, dropped to 31st place with its rate nearly halved to 2.5 per 100,000.

At the low end, Wyoming had the lowest rate at 0.9 per 100,000, while Alaska’s rate decreased from 1.5 to 1.4 per 100,000.

Overall, the declining hospitalization rates indicate progress, though COVID-19 is not entirely behind us yet.

Scroll down for the states where COVID-19 is the worst right now:

50. Wyoming

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 0.9 per 100,000 (5 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.6% (19th lowest)

49. Alaska

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.4 per 100,000 (10 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.4% (6th highest)

48. Iowa

Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.4 per 100,000 (44 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.2% (10th highest)

47. New Hampshire

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.5 per 100,000 (21 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

46. Rhode Island

Source: Brad Yurcisin / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.6 per 100,000 (17 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

45. Kansas

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.8 per 100,000 (54 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.2% (10th highest)

44. Utah

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.9 per 100,000 (64 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.6% (19th lowest)

43. Colorado

Source: mobili / Flickr
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 1.9 per 100,000 (111 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.6% (19th lowest)

42. Arizona

Source: dszc / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.1 per 100,000 (153 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

41. South Dakota

Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.1 per 100,000 (19 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.6% (19th lowest)

40. Minnesota

Minneapolis+Minnesota | Minneapolis
Source: dalecruse / Flickr

N/A

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.1 per 100,000 (122 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.9% (25th lowest)

39. Vermont

Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.2 per 100,000 (14 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

38. Massachusetts

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.2 per 100,000 (154 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

37. Connecticut

Source: JasonOndreicka / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.3 per 100,000 (84 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

36. Indiana

Indianapolis neighborhood
Source: Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.4 per 100,000 (165 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.9% (25th lowest)

35. Maryland

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.4 per 100,000 (150 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

34. California

Famous Lombard Street, San Francisco, California, USA
Source: Maks Ershov / Shutterstock.com
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.5 per 100,000 (957 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

33. Ohio

Source: PapaBear / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.5 per 100,000 (291 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.9% (25th lowest)

32. Washington

Source: RyanJLane / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.5 per 100,000 (194 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.4% (6th highest)

31. Nebraska

Nebraska | Omaha skyline and lake at Autumn
Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.5 per 100,000 (50 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.2% (10th highest)

30. New Mexico

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.6 per 100,000 (54 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.7% (the highest)

29. New Jersey

Source: Darryl Brooks/Shutterstock
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.6 per 100,000 (237 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

28. Idaho

Source: Shunyu Fan / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.6 per 100,000 (50 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.4% (6th highest)

27. Wisconsin

Wisconsin+skyline+aerial | Milwaukee Aerial Two
Source: formulanone / Flickr

N/A

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.6 per 100,000 (153 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.9% (25th lowest)

26. Nevada

View of downtown Tonopah, Nevada
Source: Famartin / Wikimedia Commons
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.6 per 100,000 (83 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

25. Oregon

Source: icetsarina / Flickr / Public Domain
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.6 per 100,000 (112 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.4% (6th highest)

24. Maine

Fall foliage along Sebago Lake in Maine
Source: Derek Young / Shutterstock.com
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.7 per 100,000 (37 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

23. Texas

Austin Texas USA sunrise skyline cityscape over Town Lake or Lady Bird Lake with amazing reflection. Skyscrapers and Texas capital building in distance you can see the entire city during summer
Source: Roschetzky Photography / Shutterstock.com
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.7 per 100,000 (805 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.7% (the highest)

22. Mississippi

Mississippi | Jackson Mississippi Skyline
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.7 per 100,000 (80 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

21. Illinois

Chicago+Illinois | Chicago, Illinois, USA
Source: pom-angers / Flickr

Chicago North Skyline from the Navy Pier July 2019 - Edited and uploaded 2021/03/28

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.7 per 100,000 (346 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.9% (25th lowest)

20. Montana

Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.8 per 100,000 (31 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.6% (19th lowest)

19. New York

Lower+East+Side+Manhattan+New+York | Chinatown - East Broadway
Source: joiseyshowaa / Flickr

Lower East Side of Manhattan looking towards Kimlau Square from the walkway on the Manhattan Bridge Web sites using this photo: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatowns_in_the_Americas www.duhoctrungquoc.vn/wiki/en/Chinatown,_Manhattan www.wikiwand.com/en/Chinese_people_in_New_York_City mewfun.com/t-263294-1.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Broadway_%28Manhattan%29 politicaliq.com/2023/04/17/two-arre...

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.8 per 100,000 (552 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

18. Kentucky

Source: Jason Whitman / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 2.8 per 100,000 (127 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

17. North Dakota

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.0 per 100,000 (23 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.6% (19th lowest)

16. Pennsylvania

Source: governortomwolf / Flickr
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.0 per 100,000 (383 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

15. Michigan

Source: dgaken / Flickr
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.1 per 100,000 (312 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.9% (25th lowest)

14. Delaware

Delaware | Delaware
Source: dorseymw / Flickr

Photos by Michele Walfre

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.1 per 100,000 (32 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

13. Tennessee

Memphis+Tennessee | Beale Street Memphis Morning
Source: mobili / Flickr

N/A

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.2 per 100,000 (224 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

12. Georgia

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.2 per 100,000 (354 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

11. North Carolina

Charlotte+North+Carolina | Charlotte, North Carolina
Source: c_griffith / Flickr

View of uptown Charlotte

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.3 per 100,000 (348 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

10. Oklahoma

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.3 per 100,000 (133 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.7% (the highest)

9. Florida

Key+West+Florida | Key West at night
Source: sergesegal / Flickr

N/A

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.3 per 100,000 (736 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

8. South Carolina

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.5 per 100,000 (183 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

7. Missouri

Source: Lana2011 / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.5 per 100,000 (215 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.2% (10th highest)

6. West Virginia

Source: adamkaz / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.7 per 100,000 (65 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

5. Louisiana

Shreveport Louisiana | Shreveport, Louisiana, USA Skyline
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Shreveport, Louisiana, USA downtown skyline over the river.

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.8 per 100,000 (174 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.7% (the highest)

4. Alabama

Mobile Alabama | Mobile, Alabama, USA Skyline
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Mobile, Alabama, USA downtown skyline at dusk.

  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 3.9 per 100,000 (197 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)

3. Arkansas

Source: BorderaS / E+ via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 4.0 per 100,000 (121 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.7% (the highest)

2. Virginia

Source: krblokhin / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 4.1 per 100,000 (359 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 3.4% (13th lowest)

1. Hawaii

Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
  • New weekly COVID-19 hospital admissions, March 17-23, 2024: 4.8 per 100,000 (69 total)
  • Current COVID-19 test positivity rate: 4.0% (14th highest)
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