Riya Baibhawi

These US States Were Hit Hardest By COVID

Coronavirus

COVID-19, also called <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/coronavirus">coronavirus</a></span> disease, is a respiratory infection. It is caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or more commonly, SARS-CoV-2. Wuhan in China became the epicentre of this disease in 2019 and as the infection spread worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled it as a pandemic. However, the number of cases has been on a steep decline in recent months.

In its latest update, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 6.6 per cent of all COVID-19 tests had a positive result for the week ending. This marks a drop from the 6.9 per cent test positivity rate the week before, which ended January 4. The Midwest had the highest rates of COVID-19 test positivity of any region, with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin all seeing an 8.9 per cent rate of tests coming back positive. This region also saw the highest rates of test positivity the week before, albeit slightly higher at 9.2 per cent.

Which US Cities Are Worst Hit By <span>COVID</span>?

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska all had a 7.4 per cent test positivity rate, while Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont had a 6 per cent rate, and Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia (as well as D.C.) had a 5.9 per cent positivity rate.

In the middle, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington saw 5.4 per cent of COVID-19 tests come back positive, while Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming saw 5.3 per cent positivity rates and Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas 4.6 per cent.

The states with the lowest rates of COVID-19 tests coming back positive included New Jersey and New York at 4.1 per cent, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee at 3.7 percent, and Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada at 3.1 per cent.

Not only the coronavirus infection but respiratory <span>diseases</span> like flu and pneumonia peak in winter months. "Many respiratory virus illnesses peak during the winter due to environmental conditions and human behaviours," a CDC spokesperson said. "COVID-19 has peaks in the winter and at other times of the year, including the summer, driven by new variants and decreasing immunity from previous infections and vaccinations," he added.

<h2>Over 7 Million Cases Reported Worldwide</h2>

As of January 25, 2025, the global COVID-19 situation has shown significant improvement compared to the pandemic's peak years. As per the latest data by WHO, from the pandemic's onset until November 10, 2024, over 776.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 7 million deaths were reported across 234 countries. The majority of these fatalities occurred between 2020 and 2022, with increased immunity leading to a significant decrease in deaths in subsequent years. In the most recent four-week reporting period, from October 14 to November 10, 2024, 77 countries reported COVID-19 cases, totalling over 200,000 new cases—a 39% decrease compared to the previous 28 days. Additionally, 27 deaths were reported globally during this period, marking a 36% decline in new deaths.

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COVID-19, also called coronavirus disease, is a respiratory infection. It is caused by a virus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or more commonly, SARS-CoV-2. Wuhan in China became the epicentre of this disease in 2019 and as the infection spread worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) labelled it as a pandemic. However, the number of cases has been on a steep decline in recent months.In its latest update, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said 6.6 per cent of all COVID-19 tests had a positive result for the week ending. This marks a drop from the 6.9 per cent test positivity rate the week before, which ended January 4. The Midwest had the highest rates of COVID-19 test positivity of any region, with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin all seeing an 8.9 per cent rate of tests coming back positive. This region also saw the highest rates of test positivity the week before, albeit slightly higher at 9.2 per cent.Which US Cities Are Worst Hit By COVID?Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska all had a 7.4 per cent test positivity rate, while Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont had a 6 per cent rate, and Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia (as well as D.C.) had a 5.9 per cent positivity rate.In the middle, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington saw 5.4 per cent of COVID-19 tests come back positive, while Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming saw 5.3 per cent positivity rates and Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas 4.6 per cent.The states with the lowest rates of COVID-19 tests coming back positive included New Jersey and New York at 4.1 per cent, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee at 3.7 percent, and Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada at 3.1 per cent.Not only the coronavirus infection but respiratory diseases like flu and pneumonia peak in winter months. "Many respiratory virus illnesses peak during the winter due to environmental conditions and human behaviours," a CDC spokesperson said. "COVID-19 has peaks in the winter and at other times of the year, including the summer, driven by new variants and decreasing immunity from previous infections and vaccinations," he added.Over 7 Million Cases Reported WorldwideAs of January 25, 2025, the global COVID-19 situation has shown significant improvement compared to the pandemic's peak years. As per the latest data by WHO, from the pandemic's onset until November 10, 2024, over 776.8 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 7 million deaths were reported across 234 countries. The majority of these fatalities occurred between 2020 and 2022, with increased immunity leading to a significant decrease in deaths in subsequent years. In the most recent four-week reporting period, from October 14 to November 10, 2024, 77 countries reported COVID-19 cases, totalling over 200,000 new cases—a 39% decrease compared to the previous 28 days. Additionally, 27 deaths were reported globally during this period, marking a 36% decline in new deaths.