Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Mississippi
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 Mississippi 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. Clarke County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,217 (4,696 total cases)
--- 3.9% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 721 (112 total deaths)
--- 65.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.7% (9,119 fully vaccinated)
#49. Harrison County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,217 (62,876 total cases)
--- 3.9% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (699 total deaths)
--- 23.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.2% (118,962 fully vaccinated)
#48. Hancock County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,253 (14,410 total cases)
--- 3.8% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 336 (160 total deaths)
--- 23.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.8% (21,834 fully vaccinated)
#47. Pike County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,391 (11,940 total cases)
--- 3.3% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 489 (192 total deaths)
--- 11.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (20,470 fully vaccinated)
#46. Walthall County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,393 (4,342 total cases)
--- 3.3% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 581 (83 total deaths)
--- 33.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.5% (6,075 fully vaccinated)
#45. Jackson County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,492 (43,792 total cases)
--- 3.0% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 340 (489 total deaths)
--- 22.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.0% (70,440 fully vaccinated)
#44. Jefferson Davis County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,572 (3,402 total cases)
--- 2.8% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 503 (56 total deaths)
--- 15.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.6% (5,189 fully vaccinated)
#43. Simpson County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,745 (8,196 total cases)
--- 2.2% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 593 (158 total deaths)
--- 35.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.6% (12,422 fully vaccinated)
#42. Copiah County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,939 (8,683 total cases)
--- 1.6% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 442 (124 total deaths)
--- 1.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.0% (15,713 fully vaccinated)
#41. Pearl River County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,989 (17,210 total cases)
--- 1.4% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 515 (286 total deaths)
--- 17.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (27,517 fully vaccinated)
#40. DeSoto County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,389 (58,052 total cases)
--- 0.2% less cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 308 (570 total deaths)
--- 29.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.1% (105,662 fully vaccinated)
#39. Noxubee County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,641 (3,296 total cases)
--- 0.6% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 470 (49 total deaths)
--- 7.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.6% (5,900 fully vaccinated)
#38. Yazoo County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,947 (9,485 total cases)
--- 1.6% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 384 (114 total deaths)
--- 12.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.9% (15,106 fully vaccinated)
#37. Marshall County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,991 (11,291 total cases)
--- 1.7% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 513 (181 total deaths)
--- 17.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.9% (20,075 fully vaccinated)
#36. Benton County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,135 (2,654 total cases)
--- 2.2% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 618 (51 total deaths)
--- 41.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.6% (4,430 fully vaccinated)
#35. Leake County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,213 (7,340 total cases)
--- 2.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 549 (125 total deaths)
--- 25.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.5% (11,501 fully vaccinated)
#34. Newton County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,296 (6,788 total cases)
--- 2.7% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 485 (102 total deaths)
--- 11.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.2% (11,604 fully vaccinated)
#33. Alcorn County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,647 (12,064 total cases)
--- 3.8% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 441 (163 total deaths)
--- 0.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.5% (14,955 fully vaccinated)
#32. Lamar County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,684 (20,703 total cases)
--- 4.0% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 265 (168 total deaths)
--- 39.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.0% (38,670 fully vaccinated)
#31. Choctaw County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,911 (2,702 total cases)
--- 4.7% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 438 (36 total deaths)
--- 0.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.2% (3,058 fully vaccinated)
#30. Lafayette County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,109 (17,885 total cases)
--- 5.3% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 344 (186 total deaths)
--- 21.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.2% (30,362 fully vaccinated)
#29. Wayne County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,152 (6,691 total cases)
--- 5.4% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 436 (88 total deaths)
--- 0.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.1% (8,096 fully vaccinated)
#28. Marion County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,386 (8,204 total cases)
--- 6.2% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 574 (141 total deaths)
--- 31.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.5% (11,684 fully vaccinated)
#27. Lawrence County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,585 (4,227 total cases)
--- 6.8% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 453 (57 total deaths)
--- 3.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (7,155 fully vaccinated)
#26. George County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,110 (8,357 total cases)
--- 8.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 367 (90 total deaths)
--- 16.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.2% (10,095 fully vaccinated)
#25. Lowndes County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,426 (20,172 total cases)
--- 9.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 425 (249 total deaths)
--- 2.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.7% (30,865 fully vaccinated)
#24. Coahoma County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,487 (7,630 total cases)
--- 9.7% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 601 (133 total deaths)
--- 37.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.6% (11,853 fully vaccinated)
#23. Winston County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,603 (6,213 total cases)
--- 10.1% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 579 (104 total deaths)
--- 32.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.4% (8,870 fully vaccinated)
#22. Forrest County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,693 (25,984 total cases)
--- 10.3% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 426 (319 total deaths)
--- 2.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.3% (33,955 fully vaccinated)
#21. Stone County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,877 (6,395 total cases)
--- 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 431 (79 total deaths)
--- 1.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.3% (8,669 fully vaccinated)
#20. Panola County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,929 (11,943 total cases)
--- 11.1% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 518 (177 total deaths)
--- 18.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.2% (16,830 fully vaccinated)
#19. Bolivar County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,138 (10,762 total cases)
--- 11.8% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 614 (188 total deaths)
--- 40.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.8% (18,631 fully vaccinated)
#18. Attala County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,204 (6,398 total cases)
--- 12.0% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 660 (120 total deaths)
--- 51.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (10,163 fully vaccinated)
#17. Montgomery County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,468 (3,467 total cases)
--- 12.8% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 839 (82 total deaths)
--- 92.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.8% (5,553 fully vaccinated)
#16. Jasper County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,537 (5,822 total cases)
--- 13.0% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 482 (79 total deaths)
--- 10.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.7% (8,631 fully vaccinated)
#15. Monroe County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,236 (12,774 total cases)
--- 15.2% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 644 (227 total deaths)
--- 47.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.8% (18,262 fully vaccinated)
#14. Jones County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,633 (24,946 total cases)
--- 16.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (310 total deaths)
--- 4.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.7% (30,426 fully vaccinated)
#13. Lee County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,243 (31,819 total cases)
--- 18.4% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 370 (316 total deaths)
--- 15.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.8% (38,251 fully vaccinated)
#12. Calhoun County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,268 (5,352 total cases)
--- 18.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 536 (77 total deaths)
--- 22.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.7% (6,568 fully vaccinated)
#11. Pontotoc County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,403 (12,034 total cases)
--- 19.0% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 479 (154 total deaths)
--- 9.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.6% (13,714 fully vaccinated)
#10. Tishomingo County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,523 (7,273 total cases)
--- 19.3% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 629 (122 total deaths)
--- 43.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.7% (7,687 fully vaccinated)
#9. Itawamba County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,785 (8,838 total cases)
--- 20.2% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 628 (147 total deaths)
--- 43.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 35.6% (8,332 fully vaccinated)
#8. Union County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,039 (10,961 total cases)
--- 21.0% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 444 (128 total deaths)
--- 1.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.3% (11,601 fully vaccinated)
#7. Prentiss County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,148 (9,585 total cases)
--- 21.3% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 434 (109 total deaths)
--- 0.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.8% (11,000 fully vaccinated)
#6. Tippah County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,501 (8,476 total cases)
--- 22.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 518 (114 total deaths)
--- 18.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.1% (9,489 fully vaccinated)
#5. Yalobusha County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,578 (4,671 total cases)
--- 22.7% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 512 (62 total deaths)
--- 17.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.1% (8,119 fully vaccinated)
#4. Chickasaw County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,677 (6,615 total cases)
--- 23.0% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 579 (99 total deaths)
--- 32.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.7% (8,498 fully vaccinated)
#3. Webster County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 39,488 (3,826 total cases)
--- 25.6% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 753 (73 total deaths)
--- 72.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.2% (4,765 fully vaccinated)
#2. Neshoba County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,655 (12,129 total cases)
--- 32.5% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 845 (246 total deaths)
--- 93.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.7% (12,719 fully vaccinated)
#1. Covington County, MS
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 43,840 (8,170 total cases)
--- 39.4% more cases per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 633 (118 total deaths)
--- 44.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Mississippi
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.0% (10,800 fully vaccinated)