Where is COVID-19 spreading fastest, and is it happening near you? Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is largely relying on COVID-related hospitalization levels to gauge where the virus is hitting hard, the agency is still tracking the number of positive COVID tests that are being reported. These are the 12 states with the highest number of positive tests, in ascending order. (It's according to data through Oct. 7, the last date for which information is available.)
As part of the CDC's region 10, which includes four states, Alaska was found to have a positivity rate of 11.2%.
Idaho's test positivity rate was 11.2%. The state also had a 43% increase in COVID-related hospitalizations in the last 14 days, the sixth-highest in the country.
Oregon's test positivity rate was 11.2%. COVID-related deaths rose 41%, the fifth-highest increase in the nation.
Washington's positivity rate was 11.2%.
The Garden State was found to have a positivity rate of 11.9%. Hospitalizations increased 23% in the last 14 days.
Along with the rest of the CDC's region 2 (along with New Jersey and Puerto Rico), New York's test positivity rate was 11.9%.
Colorado's test positivity rate was 13.4%. The state also had a 36% increase in COVID-related deaths in the last 14 days, the sixth-highest in the U.S.
Montana saw a test positivity rate of 13.4%. Hospitalizations rose 37%, the seventh-highest increase in the nation.
North Dakota's test positivity percentage was 13.4%. COVID-related hospitalizations rose 28% in the last 14 days, the eighth-highest increase in the country.
South Dakota's rate of positive tests was 13.4%. The state also saw a 50% increase in COVID-related hospitalizations, according to the latest data—the nation's fifth-highest.
As part of the CDC's region 8 with five other states, Utah's test positivity rate was 13.4%.
Wyoming's test positivity rate was among the highest in the nation, at 13.4%. It also had the country's ninth-highest increase in COVID-related hospitalizations, according to the latest data.
