Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Delaware
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.
The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Delaware using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.
#3. Kent County, DE
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,887 (61,263 total cases)
--- 4.9% more cases per 100k residents than Delaware
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 389 (703 total deaths)
--- 20.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Delaware
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.2% (105,288 fully vaccinated)
#2. Sussex County, DE
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,363 (73,461 total cases)
--- 2.9% less cases per 100k residents than Delaware
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (926 total deaths)
--- 22.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Delaware
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.4% (167,306 fully vaccinated)
#1. New Castle County, DE
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,987 (178,728 total cases)
--- 1.0% less cases per 100k residents than Delaware
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 272 (1,519 total deaths)
--- 15.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Delaware
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.9% (401,805 fully vaccinated)
