Worst Counties in America – Florida & Texas Lead the Way; Arizona improves (for now)

Here’s my regular update on the worst large counties in America for COVID. Criteria is population greater than 100,000 and more than 200 new cases per million population per day. As of yesterday 210 counties made the list (up from 199 in the last report 8 days ago).

Texas is rapidly advancing up this league table – with 28 counties on the list. The worst county in Texas for new case growth is unquestionably Nueces – with currently 828 new cases per million per day – and fatalities of 19 per million per day. Hidalgo, Texas has a higher level of current fatalities of around 32 per million per day.

Here’s the full list.

Here’s a graphic of Hidalgo Texas

Arizona gets better – but likely not for long

Arizona now only has 5 counties on the list – but don’t let complacency set in here. Arizona University will return to have students in the fall. I don’t know what these guys are thinking but maybe they should read my post on Hubris and Complacency. Arizona University has 45,000 students.

Now – I seriously believe the university THINKS it is ready…. but come on please pay attention to the transmission rates.

Tennessee

Tennessee has 12 counties on the list – with my own home county, Davidson, #1 in the state at an average of 566 new cases per million per day. Fatalities are trending up with 4 fatalities per million per day.

Florida

Florida has 33 counties on the list – with Miami Dade leading the way. Miami has over 1033 new cases per million per day – which given the 2.8m population of that county means well over 2,500 new people are tested positive each day.

Miami is leading the country in new cases per day