Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Minnesota
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 Minnesota 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.
#50. Hennepin County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,978 (366,818 total cases)
--- 3.6% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 218 (2,764 total deaths)
--- 9.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.1% (975,390 fully vaccinated)
#49. Becker County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,312 (10,090 total cases)
--- 2.4% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 288 (99 total deaths)
--- 20.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.4% (19,427 fully vaccinated)
#48. Pine County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,638 (8,175 total cases)
--- 8.0% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 247 (73 total deaths)
--- 2.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.5% (14,926 fully vaccinated)
#47. Marshall County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,707 (2,400 total cases)
--- 14.4% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 257 (24 total deaths)
--- 7.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.1% (4,768 fully vaccinated)
#46. Mower County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,109 (13,264 total cases)
--- 10.2% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 197 (79 total deaths)
--- 17.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.9% (25,606 fully vaccinated)
#45. Crow Wing County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,364 (18,452 total cases)
--- 5.6% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 274 (178 total deaths)
--- 14.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.1% (37,784 fully vaccinated)
#44. Pope County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,634 (3,671 total cases)
--- 8.6% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 178 (20 total deaths)
--- 25.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.1% (6,649 fully vaccinated)
#43. Wright County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,829 (41,276 total cases)
--- 0.7% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 233 (323 total deaths)
--- 2.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.5% (78,136 fully vaccinated)
#42. Anoka County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,953 (114,046 total cases)
--- 6.4% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 236 (843 total deaths)
--- 1.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.4% (219,013 fully vaccinated)
#41. Jackson County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,411 (2,502 total cases)
--- 15.4% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 183 (18 total deaths)
--- 23.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.7% (5,191 fully vaccinated)
#40. Ramsey County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,444 (151,031 total cases)
--- 8.7% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 263 (1,445 total deaths)
--- 9.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.5% (409,957 fully vaccinated)
#39. Chisago County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,401 (16,635 total cases)
--- 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 223 (126 total deaths)
--- 7.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.2% (33,479 fully vaccinated)
#38. Fillmore County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,663 (5,617 total cases)
--- 11.3% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 147 (31 total deaths)
--- 38.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.5% (14,861 fully vaccinated)
#37. Otter Tail County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,364 (15,488 total cases)
--- 12.3% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 301 (177 total deaths)
--- 25.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.8% (31,033 fully vaccinated)
#36. Wilkin County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,821 (1,851 total cases)
--- 0.7% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 371 (23 total deaths)
--- 54.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.0% (3,599 fully vaccinated)
#35. Sherburne County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,635 (30,761 total cases)
--- 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 193 (188 total deaths)
--- 19.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.7% (46,337 fully vaccinated)
#34. Red Lake County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,475 (1,033 total cases)
--- 15.2% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 345 (14 total deaths)
--- 43.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.7% (2,340 fully vaccinated)
#33. Sibley County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,360 (4,067 total cases)
--- 8.9% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 188 (28 total deaths)
--- 21.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (7,467 fully vaccinated)
#32. Faribault County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,634 (4,319 total cases)
--- 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 432 (59 total deaths)
--- 80.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.6% (8,000 fully vaccinated)
#31. Brown County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,642 (7,663 total cases)
--- 2.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 348 (87 total deaths)
--- 45.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.2% (16,812 fully vaccinated)
#30. Redwood County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,750 (4,513 total cases)
--- 1.0% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 363 (55 total deaths)
--- 51.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (8,486 fully vaccinated)
#29. St. Louis County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,883 (57,497 total cases)
--- 3.9% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 294 (585 total deaths)
--- 22.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.0% (137,276 fully vaccinated)
#28. Nobles County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,439 (7,665 total cases)
--- 18.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 287 (62 total deaths)
--- 19.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.1% (13,641 fully vaccinated)
#27. Clay County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,204 (22,609 total cases)
--- 17.2% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 209 (134 total deaths)
--- 12.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.4% (41,334 fully vaccinated)
#26. Polk County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,560 (10,212 total cases)
--- 8.4% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (124 total deaths)
--- 64.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.1% (18,862 fully vaccinated)
#25. Douglas County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,059 (12,609 total cases)
--- 10.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (128 total deaths)
--- 40.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.1% (22,536 fully vaccinated)
#24. Murray County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,484 (2,252 total cases)
--- 8.5% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 244 (20 total deaths)
--- 1.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.3% (4,610 fully vaccinated)
#23. Traverse County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,672 (967 total cases)
--- 1.2% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 338 (11 total deaths)
--- 40.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.5% (2,166 fully vaccinated)
#22. Meeker County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,416 (6,831 total cases)
--- 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 349 (81 total deaths)
--- 45.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.3% (11,452 fully vaccinated)
#21. Winona County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,140 (15,216 total cases)
--- 0.3% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 158 (80 total deaths)
--- 34.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.6% (34,126 fully vaccinated)
#20. Rock County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,062 (2,614 total cases)
--- 6.6% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 376 (35 total deaths)
--- 56.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.7% (5,282 fully vaccinated)
#19. Swift County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,081 (2,602 total cases)
--- 6.5% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 356 (33 total deaths)
--- 48.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.2% (5,485 fully vaccinated)
#18. Todd County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,566 (8,032 total cases)
--- 8.4% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 288 (71 total deaths)
--- 20.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.0% (10,863 fully vaccinated)
#17. Kanabec County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,176 (4,113 total cases)
--- 16.2% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 367 (60 total deaths)
--- 52.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.1% (7,204 fully vaccinated)
#16. Freeborn County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,612 (10,178 total cases)
--- 11.9% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 281 (85 total deaths)
--- 17.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.2% (17,926 fully vaccinated)
#15. Morrison County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,705 (10,585 total cases)
--- 5.5% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 344 (115 total deaths)
--- 43.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.5% (17,203 fully vaccinated)
#14. Stearns County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,466 (58,737 total cases)
--- 21.4% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 250 (403 total deaths)
--- 4.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.9% (98,047 fully vaccinated)
#13. Wadena County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,055 (4,933 total cases)
--- 20.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 468 (64 total deaths)
--- 95.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (6,962 fully vaccinated)
#12. Yellow Medicine County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,343 (2,946 total cases)
--- 1.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 319 (31 total deaths)
--- 32.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.1% (5,641 fully vaccinated)
#11. Carlton County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,052 (10,780 total cases)
--- 0.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 307 (110 total deaths)
--- 27.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.5% (23,871 fully vaccinated)
#10. Benton County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,793 (16,271 total cases)
--- 32.4% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 470 (192 total deaths)
--- 95.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.3% (18,525 fully vaccinated)
#9. Pennington County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,421 (4,154 total cases)
--- 2.1% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 305 (43 total deaths)
--- 27.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.7% (7,723 fully vaccinated)
#8. Cook County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 14,278 (780 total cases)
--- 52.5% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 92 (5 total deaths)
--- 61.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 82.9% (4,530 fully vaccinated)
#7. Nicollet County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,651 (9,477 total cases)
--- 8.0% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 210 (72 total deaths)
--- 12.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.3% (22,026 fully vaccinated)
#6. Lake of the Woods County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,770 (889 total cases)
--- 20.9% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 160 (6 total deaths)
--- 33.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (2,123 fully vaccinated)
#5. Stevens County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,147 (3,152 total cases)
--- 7.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 153 (15 total deaths)
--- 36.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.7% (5,850 fully vaccinated)
#4. Grant County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,533 (1,704 total cases)
--- 5.0% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 218 (13 total deaths)
--- 9.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.6% (3,380 fully vaccinated)
#3. Norman County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,824 (1,710 total cases)
--- 10.7% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 235 (15 total deaths)
--- 2.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.0% (3,954 fully vaccinated)
#2. Lake County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,691 (2,521 total cases)
--- 21.1% less cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 301 (32 total deaths)
--- 25.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.0% (7,232 fully vaccinated)
#1. Big Stone County, MN
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,340 (1,664 total cases)
--- 11.0% more cases per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 180 (9 total deaths)
--- 25.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Minnesota
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.3% (3,259 fully vaccinated)