Here's How Quickly Coronavirus Is Spreading in Every State

We've reached a critical point in the coronavirus pandemic, with COVID numbers surging to levels even higher than they were during the initial peak of the outbreak months ago. Nearly every state is now seeing an increase in new cases, with hospitalizations and even deaths also on the rise. But certain hard-hit states are experiencing exponential spikes. When it comes to the states we need to be concerned about, there are plenty of questions to ask. But one of the most important is about the speed at which people are getting infected, i.e. how quickly is coronavirus spreading in every state?

The experts at Covid Act Now—epidemiologists, health professionals, and others—have compiled all the available data for a color-coded map that can tell us, among other things, what each state's infection rate is. This is an important number: The infection rate, which represents how many people the average sick person will infect, is based on the number of new cases and therefore gives us a sense of how quickly COVID is spreading in any given area.

We've ranked every state in the U.S. by infection rate, from lowest to highest. We've also included Covid Act Now's overall risk level for every state, which takes into account the positive test rate, ICU availability, and number of contact tracers as well. The risk level is either green (low), yellow (medium), orange (high), or red (critical).

Some states with relatively low infection rates might be high-risk overall based on other factors, while other states could have higher infection rates but lower overall risk. Focused solely on the infection rate, however, here's where every state in the country falls in terms of the coronavirus spread, from slowest to fastest. And for states that need to reconsider lockdown, check out these 7 States That Are Headed for a "Full Shutdown."

Infection Rate: 0.75 (Low)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

And for more local areas to keep an eye on, check out: The CDC Warns That These Are the Next 10 Coronavirus Hotspots.

Infection Rate: 0.85 (Low)
Overall Risk Level: Green (Low)

Infection Rate: 0.87 (Low)
Overall Risk Level: Green (Low)

And for more on Vermont's success, check out: This State Hasn't Had a Single Coronavirus Death in a Month.

Infection Rate: 0.91 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 0.97 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 0.98 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 1.00 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

And for more states that are taking a step back, here are 9 States That Have Reversed Their Reopenings as Coronavirus Surges.

Infection Rate: 1.01 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 1.01 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 1.02 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

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Infection Rate: 1.03 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 1.04 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Yellow (Medium)

Infection Rate: 1.08 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.09 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.09 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

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Infection Rate: 1.10 (Medium)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.10 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.10 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.11 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.11 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.11 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.11 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.12 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.13 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.13 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.13 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.14 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.14 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.14 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.15 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.16 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.16 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.17 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.17 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.18 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.19 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.19 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.19 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.20 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.20 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.20 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.21 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.21 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.22 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Red (Critical)

Infection Rate: 1.23 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.23 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.25 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.26 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.27 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)

Infection Rate: 1.40 (High)
Overall Risk Level: Orange (High)