Case counts in the United States are rising, and new areas of the country and new groups are bearing the brunt of the outbreak.
Case counts in the United States are rising, and new areas of the country and new groups are bearing the brunt of the outbreak.
Covid-19Guidance
Coronavirus Cases Are Peaking Again. Here’s How It’s Different This Time.
ByLauren LeatherbyandCharlie SmartJuly 2, 2020
The first wave of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States never really ended, and cases are surging again. But this time, a different and much bigger swath of the country is feeling the effects.
July 1
April 4
49,932
new cases
35,099
new cases
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Wash.
Wash.
New York City and suburbs
Maine
Maine
Mont.
Mont.
N.D.
N.D.
Vt.
Vt.
Minn.
Minn.
Ore.
Ore.
N.H.
N.H.
Idaho
Idaho
Wis.
Wis.
N.Y.
N.Y.
S.D.
S.D.
Mass.
Mass.
Mich.
Mich.
Conn.
Conn.
Wyo.
Wyo.
R.I.
R.I.
Resort towns in the West
Pa.
Pa.
Iowa
Iowa
N.J.
N.J.
Neb.
Neb.
Nev.
Ohio
Ohio
Del.
Del.
Md.
Md.
Utah
Utah
Ind.
Ind.
Ill.
Ill.
Nev.
W.Va.
W.Va.
Colo.
Colo.
Calif.
Calif.
Va.
Va.
Kan.
Kan.
Mo.
Mo.
Ky.
Ky.
10
1
2
5
N.C.
N.C.
Tenn.
Tenn.
Cases per
1,000 people
Okla.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Ark.
Ark.
S.C.
S.C.
N.M.
N.M.
Ga.
Ga.
Ala.
Ala.
Miss.
Miss.
La.
La.
Texas
Texas
Southwest Georgia
Alaska
Alaska
Fla.
Fla.
Southeast
Louisiana
Hawaii
Hawaii
April 4
35,099
new cases
1
2
5
10
Cases per
1,000 people
March 1
July 1
New York City and suburbs
Wash.
Maine
Mont.
N.D.
Vt.
Minn.
Ore.
N.H.
Idaho
Wis.
N.Y.
S.D.
Mass.
Mich.
Conn.
Wyo.
Resort towns in the West
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
N.J.
Nev.
Calif.
Neb.
Ohio
Del.
Md.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
W.Va.
Colo.
Va.
Kan.
Mo.
Ky.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ala.
Miss.
Southwest
Georgia
La.
Texas
Alaska
Fla.
Southeast
Louisiana
Hawaii
July 1
49,932
new cases
March 1
July 1
Wash.
Maine
Mont.
N.D.
Vt.
Minn.
Ore.
N.H.
Idaho
Wis.
N.Y.
S.D.
Mass.
Mich.
Conn.
Wyo.
R.I.
Pa.
Iowa
N.J.
Neb.
Ohio
Del.
Md.
Nev.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
W.Va.
Colo.
Va.
Kan.
Mo.
Ky.
Calif.
N.C.
Tenn.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ala.
Miss.
La.
Texas
Alaska
Fla.
Hawaii
April 4
July 1
49,932
new cases
35,099
new cases
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Wash.
Wash.
New York City and suburbs
Maine
Maine
Mont.
Mont.
N.D.
N.D.
Vt.
Vt.
Minn.
Minn.
Ore.
Ore.
N.H.
N.H.
Idaho
Idaho
Wis.
Wis.
N.Y.
S.D.
N.Y.
Mass.
S.D.
Mass.
Mich.
Mich.
Conn.
Conn.
Wyo.
Wyo.
R.I.
R.I.
Resort towns in the West
Pa.
Pa.
Iowa
Iowa
N.J.
N.J.
Neb.
Neb.
Ohio
Nev.
Ohio
Del.
Del.
Md.
Md.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
Utah
Ind.
Ill.
Nev.
W.Va.
W.Va.
Colo.
Colo.
Calif.
Calif.
Va.
Va.
Kan.
Kan.
Mo.
Mo.
Ky.
Ky.
N.C.
N.C.
Tenn.
Tenn.
1
2
5
10
Okla.
Okla.
Ariz.
Ariz.
Cases per
1,000 people
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ark.
S.C.
N.M.
Ga.
Ga.
Ala.
Ala.
Miss.
Miss.
Southwest Georgia
La.
Texas
La.
Texas
Southeast
Louisiana
Alaska
Fla.
Alaska
Fla.
The current surge in cases has swept through the rural South and West.
Hawaii
Hawaii
The first peak came at the beginning of April: About 30,000 cases were reported per day, but the biggest hotspots were concentrated in just a few regions. With the right steps, public health experts said, there was still a chancethe outbreak could be contained.
That didn’t happen, and new infections in the United States plateaued before roaring back again in late June as the virus spread to the rest of the country. Daily case counts are well above 30,000 now, and nearly 10 times as many counties are hotspots — where at least one person per thousand was diagnosed in the last two weeks — making the prospect of containment all the more unlikely.
Some rural counties in the South, West and Midwest, where the virus seemed like a distant threat just two months ago, are seeinghospitals approach capacityfor the first time.
The numbers of new cases in some Florida counties, including Miami-Dade and Duval, have more than tripled in the past two weeks. In Texas, more than 6,000 new cases are diagnosed every day. Hospitals in Houston are so full thatpatients are being transferredto other cities.
Midwest
South
West
Northeast
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
South
West
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Northeast
Midwest
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
South
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
West
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
Northeast
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
Midwest
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
In New York City, meanwhile, overwhelmed hospitals saw a drop in coronavirus patients in May so sharp it was “like someone turned off the hose,” and new infections have stayed low.
The geographic shift of the outbreak also means new groups are now experiencing its effects.
Where new cases have been reported
By density
By race and ethnicity
By 2016 vote
Counties outside large metros
Counties that are less white
Counties Donald Trump won
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Counties in large metro areas
Counties that are whiter than avg.
Counties Hillary Clinton won
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Where new cases have been reported
By density
Counties outside large metros
Counties in large metro areas
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
By race and ethnicity
Counties that are less white
Counties that are more white
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
By 2016 vote
Counties Hillary Clinton won
Counties Donald Trump won
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Where new cases have been reported
By density
By race and ethnicity
By 2016 vote
Counties outside large metros
Counties that are less white
Counties Donald Trump won
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
Counties in large metro areas
Counties that are whiter than avg.
Counties Hillary Clinton won
20,000 cases
10,000
0
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
March 1
July 1
In early April, most new cases were in large metro areas. The New York City area had almost half of all new cases some days. Other early outbreaks hit New Orleans and Detroit. But the current surge in cases has swept across more rural and suburban parts of the country, leaving few counties untouched in much of the South.
Some demographic trends remain the same, even as the virus spreads. People of color havedisproportionately borne the bruntfrom the beginning, and the latest spike is no different. Among the areas currently seeing a rapid increase in cases are majority-Hispanic counties along the Southern border, Native American reservations in the Southwest, and majority-Black counties in the Southeast.
But the political geography has clearly changed: Many counties where Donald Trump won in 2016 are being hit for the first time. Following months during which decisions to lock down and reopen states often fell along party lines, and wearing a face maskbecame politicized, some Republican governors haveabruptly begun imploring residents to wear masks.
The rapid spread of the virus in regions that had previously avoided much of its impact has caused some state and local governments toreverse plansto reopen.
Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona ordered bars, gyms and other businesses in the state toclose for 30 days. The governors of Florida, Texas and California alsoreimposed restrictionson bars and other businesses after a sharp rise in cases. Even in New York City, where the reopening time frame has been more cautious, Mayor Bill de Blasioannouncedthat plans to allow indoor seating at restaurants would be delayed indefinitely.
Tracking the Coronavirus
Countries
State by state
Source: Coronavirus case data is from a New York Times database of reports from state and local health agencies and hospitals.