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This Is the Deadliest State for COVID-19

This Is the Deadliest State for COVID-19

Despite attempts at normalization, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives, both worldwide and nationwide. More than two years in, the COVID-19 pandemic has killed almost 981,000 people in the United States, with nearly 30,000 deaths in the past two weeks alone. Largely because of the pandemic, U.S. life expectancy overall decreased by nearly two years in 2020. 

One bright spot is that hospitalizations hit a new low as of March 31, with just over 16,000 people in the hospital. This is a far cry from the peak of nearly 160,000 set in January during the omicron surge, according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. And though the highly contagious BA.2 omicron subvariant is now the dominant strain in the U.S., data from other countries suggests it does not make people sicker than the earlier version. (This is how COVID fatality rates compare with those of other diseases.)

To find the deadliest state for COVID-19, 24/7 Tempo ranked states by the average daily deaths over the most recent seven days per 100,000 people, using data from federal, state, and local sources as of March 31. 

Currently, Rhode Island ranks as the deadliest state for the virus, with an average of 13 daily deaths over the past seven days, or 1.2 deaths per 100,000 people. That represents a significant surge, with the average of new daily deaths being more than 2,000% higher than it was 14 days ago. 

Other states with relatively high COVID-19 deaths rates over the past week include West Virginia, Nebraska, Arizona, and Kentucky, with average new deaths increasing in West Virginia and Nebraska and decreasing in Arizona and Kentucky. Encouragingly, the average number of daily deaths has fallen in 40 states. (This is how many people have died from COVID-19 in each state.)

On the other end of the scale is Hawaii, which reported an average of 0.7 daily deaths over the past seven days, or 0.05 per 100,000 people. Though low, the average daily death rate was zero 14 days ago.

Source: Evgeniia Ozerkina / iStock via Getty Images

50. Hawaii
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.05
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.71 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: Increase from zero avg. cases
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,361 (3rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 96 (2nd lowest)

Source: Leo Cunha Media / iStock via Getty Images

49. New York
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.05
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9.86 (23rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.60% (13th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 67,303 (4th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 344 (16th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

48. New Jersey
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.06
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.57 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -48.68% (17th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 33,225 (10th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 373 (6th highest)

Source: Joesboy / iStock via Getty Images

47. Maryland
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.57 (13th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -48.39% (16th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,343 (22nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 237 (15th lowest)

Source: Getty Images / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

46. South Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.71 (3rd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -72.22% (3rd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,880 (9th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 326 (21st highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

45. Idaho
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.43 (7th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -56.52% (14th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,870 (14th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 278 (17th lowest)

Source: mobili / Flickr

44. Colorado
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4.71 (14th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -21.43% (3rd smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,966 (23rd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 210 (9th lowest)

Source: Alexander Farnsworth / iStock via Getty Images

43. Massachusetts
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.08
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.86 (18th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -53.41% (19th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 20,097 (15th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 291 (19th lowest)

Source: vermontalm / iStock via Getty Images

42. Vermont
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 0.57 (the lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: Increase from zero avg. cases
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 587 (the lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 94 (the lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

41. New Hampshire
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.09
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.29 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -43.75% (13th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,451 (7th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 181 (8th lowest)

Source: Jorge Villalba / E+ via Getty Images

40. Illinois
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.11
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.86 (21st highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -54.25% (16th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 37,631 (7th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 295 (21st lowest)

Source: DmitryPepper / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

39. Maine
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.12
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.57 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -62.07% (8th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,201 (5th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 164 (5th lowest)

Source: Al Knauber / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

38. Montana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.12
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.29 (6th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -47.06% (15th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,246 (10th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 306 (25th highest)

Source: CRobertson / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

37. Mississippi
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.13
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 4 (12th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -65.85% (6th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,396 (24th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 415 (the highest)

Source: wanderluster / E+ via Getty Images

36. Indiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.14
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9.14 (22nd lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -58.71% (11th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,373 (13th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 349 (12th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

35. North Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.14
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.71 (18th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -30.87% (9th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 23,194 (14th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 223 (12th lowest)

Source: number7cloud / Flickr

34. Minnesota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.15
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 8.57 (20th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -23.08% (5th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,610 (25th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 225 (13th lowest)

Source: John Moore / Getty Images News via Getty Images

33. Washington
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.15
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 11.57 (25th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -28.95% (8th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 12,460 (25th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 165 (6th lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

32. Connecticut
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.57 (16th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -53.57% (18th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,779 (21st lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 302 (25th lowest)

Source: Dana Dagle Photography / iStock via Getty Images

31. Delaware
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.57 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -81.36% (2nd highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,846 (8th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 294 (20th lowest)

Source: Alex Potemkin / E+ via Getty Images

30. Pennsylvania
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.16
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 21 (10th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -32.26% (11th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 44,238 (5th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 345 (14th highest)

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

29. California
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.17
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 65.43 (the highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -51.28% (20th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 87,956 (the highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 222 (11th lowest)

Source: Go Nakamura / Getty Images News via Getty Images

28. Texas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.17
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 47.86 (3rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -45.08% (14th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 85,903 (2nd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 299 (24th lowest)

Source: kali9 / E+ via Getty Images

27. Florida
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.17
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 36.86 (5th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -69.61% (4th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 73,138 (3rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 343 (17th highest)

Source: arlingtonva / Flickr

26. Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 15.86 (17th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -57.63% (12th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,674 (17th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 231 (14th lowest)

Source: mobili / Flickr

25. Nevada
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 5.71 (17th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -55.06% (15th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 10,058 (20th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 331 (20th highest)

Source: mrolands / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

24. Iowa
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.19
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 6.14 (19th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -50.57% (19th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 9,445 (19th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 299 (23rd lowest)

Source: dgaken / Flickr

23. Michigan
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.71 (11th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -53.06% (20th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 35,622 (9th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 356 (9th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

22. Wyoming
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.20
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.14 (4th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -60% (10th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,791 (4th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 310 (24th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

21. North Dakota
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.21
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 1.57 (10th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -21.43% (4th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 2,245 (6th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 295 (22nd lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

20. Louisiana
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.21
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10 (24th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -48.91% (18th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 17,104 (20th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 367 (8th highest)

Source: Wendy Van / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

19. Ohio
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 26.43 (8th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -6.57% (the smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 37,793 (6th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 323 (23rd highest)

Source: Xianghong Garrison / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

18. Tennessee
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.24
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 16.14 (16th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -83.08% (the highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 25,590 (12th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 378 (4th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

17. South Carolina
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.28
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.14 (20th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -37.74% (12th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 17,591 (19th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 346 (13th highest)

Source: Lana2011 / iStock via Getty Images

16. Missouri
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.28
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 17.43 (14th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -68.64% (5th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,986 (16th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 326 (22nd highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

15. Alabama
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 16.43 (15th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -54% (17th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 19,284 (18th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 395 (3rd highest)

Source: graphiknation / E+ via Getty Images

14. Georgia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.34
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 36.14 (6th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -27.30% (7th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 36,868 (8th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 350 (11th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

13. Kansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.35
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 10.29 (25th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 80% (4th largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 8,222 (18th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 282 (18th lowest)

Source: John Pennell / iStock via Getty Images

12. Alaska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.39
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 2.86 (11th lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 100% (3rd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 1,189 (2nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 161 (4th lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

11. Arkansas
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.40
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 12 (24th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -60.19% (9th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 11,211 (22nd lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 372 (7th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

10. New Mexico
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.43
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 9 (21st lowest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -32.26% (10th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 7,234 (17th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 345 (15th highest)

Source: hapabapa / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

9. Oregon
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.45
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 18.86 (13th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 3.94% (2nd smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 7,115 (16th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 170 (7th lowest)

Source: claire codling / iStock via Getty Images

8. Utah
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.46
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 14.43 (19th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 55.38% (4th smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,711 (13th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 149 (3rd lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

7. Oklahoma
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.58
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 22.71 (9th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -64.82% (7th highest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 13,889 (24th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 352 (10th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

6. Wisconsin
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.64
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 37 (4th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 0.39% (the smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,291 (23rd highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 246 (16th lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

5. Kentucky
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.64
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 28.57 (7th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -24.81% (6th smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 14,928 (21st highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 334 (18th highest)

Source: Courtney Pedroza / Getty Images News via Getty Images

4. Arizona
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.67
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 48 (2nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: -12.04% (2nd smallest decline)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 28,883 (11th highest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 403 (2nd highest)

Source: Rey Del Rio / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

3. Nebraska
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 0.69
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13.29 (22nd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 322.73% (2nd largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 4,144 (12th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 215 (10th lowest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

2. West Virginia
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.06
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 19.14 (12th highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 4.69% (3rd smallest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 6,794 (15th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 376 (5th highest)

Source: thenationalguard / Flickr

1. Rhode Island
> Avg. daily deaths per 100,000 (past 7 days): 1.23
> Avg. daily deaths (past 7 days): 13 (23rd highest)
> 14-day change in avg new deaths: 2,175.00% (the largest increase)
> Total COVID-19 deaths: 3,522 (11th lowest)
> Total COVID-19 deaths per 100,000: 333 (19th highest)

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