Tracking Covid-19 cases in the US

On a per capita basis, North Dakota, South Dakota and Rhode Island have reported the most cases while New Jersey and New York are leading the country in deaths.

Those numbers fail to paint a complete picture, however, since testing delays and a scarcity of tests likely left many Covid-19 cases and deaths undiagnosed, especially during the outbreak’s early stages.

In late March and early April, many state and local authorities began limiting large gatherings, closing non-essential businesses and ordering residents to stay in their homes, triggering a near-total national shutdown.

While many states managed to slow the virus’ spread, the economic toll prompted a debate over when and how businesses and schools should resume in-person operations.

In mid-April, the White House unveiled a three-phase plan that said states should meet certain “gating criteria” before taking steps to reopen. One of those benchmarks was for states to have a “downward trajectory of documented cases within a 14-day period.”

Despite hopes of mass vaccination in 2021, the pandemic has continued to worsen.

In just the first few weeks of 2021, the United States reported its highest-ever numbers of daily new infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

With many hospitals filled to capacity, health experts are begging US residents to wear masks and stay within their social distancing bubbles until most people are vaccinated.