Here we look at nine states that reported the most number of deaths per 100,000 people in the last seven days, according to the latest report Thursday 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.
Iowa
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 2. 6Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 86 on December 10Total confirmed deaths: 2,724Total population: 3,155,070
Iowa recorded the country’s highest number of deaths per 100,000 people in the past week. The state’s average death toll reached a record high on Thursday. The figure has been rising sharply since early November, after flattening out since early April, according to Worldometer.
South Dakota
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 2. 5Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 26 on December 4Total confirmed deaths: 1,177Total population: 884,659
The average death toll in South Dakota has been rising on a sharp incline from early October, after remaining flat for months since early April, according to Worldometer.
North Dakota
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 2. 4Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 18 on December 10Total confirmed deaths: 1,109Total population: 762,062
North Dakota reported a record average daily death toll on Thursday. The figure has been rising sharply since mid-September, after flattening out for most of the outbreak from early April, according to Worldometer.
Wyoming
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1. 7Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 10 on December 7 and 10Total confirmed deaths: 299Total population: 578,759
On Monday, the average death toll in Wyoming hit its highest level since the outbreak began. The figure has been increasing on a steep incline from late October. Following a brief sharp decline from late November to early December, the figure has been rising sharply again through the rest of December, according to Worldometer.
Illinois
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1. 4Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 179 on December 8Total confirmed deaths: 14,844Total population: 12,671,821
The average death count in Illinois hit a record high on Tuesday. The figure has been rising sharply from late October, after declining from mid-May and flattening out from early July, according to Worldometer.
Arkansas
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1. 3Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 38 on December 10Total confirmed deaths: 2,820Total population: 3,017,804
The average death tally in Arkansas reached a record high on Thursday. The figure has been increasing since early July, after flattening out from late March to early July, according to Worldometer.
Kansas
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1. 3Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 42 on December 7 and 8Total confirmed deaths: 1,941Total population: 2,913,314
On Monday, the average death count in Kansas reached its highest level since the outbreak began. The figure has been rising sharply from early October, after flattening out for months since April, according to Worldometer.
New Mexico
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1. 3Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 30 on December 5 and 6Total confirmed deaths: 1,846Total population: 2,096,829
The average death tally in New Mexico hit a record level last weekend. The figure has been rising on a sharp incline from late October, after remaining flat from late March, according to Worldometer.
Rhode Island
Deaths per 100,000 in last 7 days: 1. 3Highest average death toll in last 7 days: 13 on December 9Total confirmed deaths: 1,498Total population: 1,059,361
The average death count in Rhode Island has been rising sharply since early November, after declining from early May and flattening out from early July, according to Worldometer.
The wider picture
The novel coronavirus has infected more than 69.6 million people, including over 15.6 million in the U.S., since it was first reported in Wuhan, China.
More than 1.5 million people have died worldwide and over 44.9 million have recovered as of Friday, according to JHU.
The graphic below, produced by Statista, shows the distribution of COVID-19 deaths among the U.S. population.
The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the spread of COVID-19 cases in the U.S.
