This unfortunate fact can be attributed to numerous factors. In most states, mask restrictions have been eased, social distancing has been minimized, and people are back to both school and work. Perhaps most importantly, many Americans have turned down the opportunity for the COVID vaccine, which has allowed the delta variant to tear through the country. “Many Americans were looking forward to an end to COVID-19,” Dr. Michael Myint, MD, an epidemiologist and physician executive for population health at the MultiCare Health System, tells Parade. “But the current wave shows that this is likely not to be the case anytime soon. COVID-19 is likely an endemic disease now, like influenza, that will affect us for quite some time. In order to stay safe, individuals should follow public health recommendations, particularly in areas of high transmission." Here are current COVID hot spots in the U.S. right now, based on the September 21st report. Please note that this information is subject to change. But if you’re traveling to one of these hot spots, vaccinated or not, you’ll want to be sure to avoid indoor settings as much as possible and mask up whenever you can.
Tennessee
With more than 17,000 cases per 100,000 people, Tennessee currently has the highest infection rate in the country. It also has one of the nation’s lowest vaccination rates, hovering just over 50 percent.
Texas
Despite a recent drop in new cases, Texas remains overwhelmed. ICUs across the state are full, hospitals are running at or well-above capacity, and Texas has outpaced the nation for COVID-19 deaths. 1 out of every 490 Texans has died as a result of the pandemic. The state is also one of the loosest in terms of COVID-19 restrictions. There are no mask mandates in place and Governor Greg Abbott actually attempted to ban facial coverings in school.
North Dakota
While sparsely populated, nearly 20 percent of North Dakotans have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Only 50 percent of the population has been inoculated from the virus, and the state does not have any mask or vaccine mandates in place.
South Dakota
With little governmental oversight and no mask mandates in sight, COVID-19 is spreading across the state of South Dakota, where nearly 20 percent of the population has been infected, and hospitalization rates have hit an eight-month high. Meanwhile, the state’s vaccination rate hovers just over 58 percent.
Florida
Though the current infection rate in Florida is on the decline, the state remains a hotspot, seeing more than 3.5 million infections overall and 150,000 new cases in the last 14 days. Florida has also recorded a record number of deaths, with the majority of said deaths occurring over the last 28 days. Like Texas, the state has been embroiled in a legal battle over mask mandates in schools.
South Carolina
Teachers, staff and students are bearing the brunt of the latest COVID outbreak in South Carolina, where the state is averaging 16,000 infections per 100,000 people, while the vaccination rate hovers at 54 percent.
Mississippi
With the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the country — and one of the lowest vaccination rates, i.e. 49 percent — Mississippi has been hit hard by the latest wave of COVID-19. More than 15 percent of the population has been diagnosed with viral illness.
Arkansas
Let’s start with the good news: Cases are on the decline in Arkansas. The state saw just 20,000 new cases over the last two weeks. However, the number of hospitalizations remains relatively high while the state’s vaccination rate remains low.
Alabama
Alabama’s COVID-19 hospitalization rate may be dropping—cases are down by nearly 33 percent—but the state’s overall infection rate remains high. Alabama has seen more than 47,000 new cases in the last two weeks, and 772,000 since the pandemic began.
Louisiana
Much like Arkansas, cases are on the decline in Louisiana. After spiking in mid-August, the Bayou state is finally getting a COVID-19 reprieve. Hospitalizations are also down. But with a low vaccination rate, the state remains a point of interest and concern. Next up: Delta Variant Symptoms Usually Appear In This Order
