What states are seeing the highest spread of COVID-19? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is largely using COVID-related hospitalization data to assess the prevalence of the virus, the agency is still tracking the number of positive COVID tests reported. These are the 21 states with the highest number of positive tests, in ascending order. (It's as of Oct. 14, the last date for which information is available.)
The Garden State was found to have a test positivity rate of 10.1%. In other CDC data, COVID-related hospitalizations rose 23% there in the last two weeks, the sixth-highest increase in the country.
Along with the rest of the CDC's Region 2 (along with New Jersey), New York's test positivity rate was 10.1%.
Arizona's latest test positivity rate is 10.5%. Hospitalizations increased 11% in the last 14 days, the eighth-highest in the nation, and COVID-related deaths rose 30%, the seventh-highest increase nationwide.
Arkansas has also seen a test positivity rate of 10.5%.
After seeing its summer surge decline in recent weeks, California re-entered the top 20 states for test positivity with 10.5%. But hospitalizations in the state dropped 21%, one the 10 biggest declines in the country.
As part of the CDC's Region 9, Hawaii tied eight other states with a test positivity rate of 10.5%.
Although Louisiana's test positivity rate was found to be 10.5%, COVID hospitalizations in the state have declined 17% in the last two weeks.
Like the rest of Region 9, Nevada's test positivity rate was 10.5%. As in California, COVID-related hospitalizations in the state dropped 21% in the last 14 days, one of the largest drops seen nationally.
New Mexico's test positivity was 10.5%. Hospitalizations rose 61% in the last two weeks, the third highest increase in the country.
Oklahoma's test positivity was 10.5%.
The positivity rate in the Lone Star State was 10.5%
As part of the CDC's Region 10, which includes four states, Alaska was found to have a positivity rate of 11%. COVID-related deaths more than doubled in the last two weeks, the biggest increase in the country.
Idaho's test positivity rate was 11%. The state also had a 32% increase in COVID-related hospitalizations in the last 14 days, the fourth-highest in the country.
Oregon's test positivity rate was 11%. COVID-related deaths rose 31%, the sixth-highest increase in the nation.
Washington's positivity rate was 11%.
Colorado's test positivity rate was 14.4%. The state also had a 9% increase in COVID-related hospitalizations in the last 14 days, the ninth-highest in the U.S.
Montana saw a test positivity rate of 14.4%. COVID-related deaths rose 30%, the seventh-highest increase in the nation.
North Dakota's test positivity percentage was 14.4%. COVID-related hospitalizations rose 26% in the last 14 days, the fifth-highest increase in the country.
South Dakota's rate of positive tests was 14.4%.
As part of the CDC's Region 8 with five other states, Utah's test positivity rate was 14.4%. Its rate of COVID-related deaths rose 56% in the last two weeks, the third-highest increase in the country.
Wyoming's test positivity rate was among the highest in the nation, at 14.4%. After experiencing the nation's highest surge the previous week, the state saw COVID-related hospitalizations decline by 1%.
