
Counties with the highest COVID-19 death rate in Pennsylvania
Counties with the highest COVID-19 death rate in Pennsylvania
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. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.
The United States as of Feb. 16 reached 926,680 COVID-19-related deaths and nearly 78.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 64.5% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 43% have received booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest cumulative COVID-19 death rates in Pennsylvania using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Counties are ranked by the highest death rate per 100,000 residents as of Feb. 15, 2021.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 death rates in your state.
#50. Bradford County
--- 4.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,695 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.3 (2 new deaths, -33% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,160 (14,574 total cases)
--- 13.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 341 (206 new cases, -34% change from previous week)
#49. Union County
--- 2.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,635 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.7 (3 new deaths, -25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,357 (11,391 total cases)
--- 19.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 200 (90 new cases, -66% change from previous week)
#48. McKean County
--- 2.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,625 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.9 (2 new deaths, -60% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,525 (7,932 total cases)
--- 8.3% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 251 (102 new cases, -32% change from previous week)

#47. Dauphin County
--- 2.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,616 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.5 (18 new deaths, -5% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,892 (58,143 total cases)
--- 1.9% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 134 (372 new cases, -64% change from previous week)
#46. Lehigh County
--- 1.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,610 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.3 (16 new deaths, -24% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,900 (88,266 total cases)
--- 12.2% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 125 (461 new cases, -47% change from previous week)
#45. Lancaster County
--- 0.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,553 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.6 (25 new deaths, -49% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,814 (119,046 total cases)
--- 2.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 154 (843 new cases, -53% change from previous week)
#44. Cumberland County
--- 0.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,531 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.5 (19 new deaths, -5% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,653 (49,795 total cases)
--- 7.7% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 195 (495 new cases, -48% change from previous week)

#43. Adams County
--- 1.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,525 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.9 (5 new deaths, -69% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,568 (24,277 total cases)
--- 10.6% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 179 (184 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
#42. Lackawanna County
--- 1.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,505 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 8.1 (17 new deaths, -26% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,076 (42,094 total cases)
--- 5.7% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 249 (523 new cases, -48% change from previous week)
#41. Lebanon County
--- 3.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,460 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.2 (6 new deaths, -57% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,421 (36,045 total cases)
--- 19.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 145 (206 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
#40. Northampton County
--- 3.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,459 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 5.2 (16 new deaths, -27% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,627 (78,235 total cases)
--- 20.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 91 (279 new cases, -72% change from previous week)
#39. Columbia County
--- 5.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,394 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 9.2 (6 new deaths, -14% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,480 (14,604 total cases)
--- 5.5% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 289 (188 new cases, -57% change from previous week)
#38. Crawford County
--- 6.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,384 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.1 (6 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,972 (19,441 total cases)
--- 7.8% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 228 (193 new cases, -39% change from previous week)
#37. Wyoming County
--- 9.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,282 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,437 (4,940 total cases)
--- 13.4% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 220 (59 new cases, -44% change from previous week)
#36. Berks County
--- 10.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,261 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.7 (20 new deaths, -39% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,938 (100,820 total cases)
--- 12.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 133 (559 new cases, -54% change from previous week)
#35. Snyder County
--- 11.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,251 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.5 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,692 (7,950 total cases)
--- 7.5% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 198 (80 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
#34. Butler County
--- 11.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,232 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.8 (9 new deaths, -25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,205 (43,591 total cases)
--- 8.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 185 (348 new cases, -54% change from previous week)
#33. Westmoreland County
--- 13.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,199 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.3 (22 new deaths, -41% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,353 (77,991 total cases)
--- 4.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 249 (870 new cases, -45% change from previous week)
#32. Perry County
--- 14.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,159 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.2 (1 new deaths, -86% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,741 (8,672 total cases)
--- 12.0% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 153 (71 new cases, -64% change from previous week)
#31. Indiana County
--- 19.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,036 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.4 (2 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,061 (16,866 total cases)
--- 5.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 271 (228 new cases, -46% change from previous week)
#30. Clearfield County
--- 19.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,028 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 8.8 (7 new deaths, -22% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,576 (18,685 total cases)
--- 10.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 246 (195 new cases, -62% change from previous week)
#29. Luzerne County
--- 20.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #1,000 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.2 (23 new deaths, -43% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,636 (71,851 total cases)
--- 6.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 176 (558 new cases, -53% change from previous week)
#28. Franklin County
--- 27.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #863 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 8.4 (13 new deaths, -32% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,557 (39,620 total cases)
--- 20.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 252 (390 new cases, -48% change from previous week)
#27. Beaver County
--- 28.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #831 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.9 (8 new deaths, -33% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,924 (39,219 total cases)
--- 12.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 306 (501 new cases, -41% change from previous week)
#26. Cameron County
--- 29.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #809 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,012 (801 total cases)
--- 15.4% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 360 (16 new cases, -16% change from previous week)
#25. Fulton County
--- 29.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #807 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 13.8 (2 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,488 (3,994 total cases)
--- 29.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 385 (56 new cases, -20% change from previous week)
#24. Carbon County
--- 29.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #800 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 9.3 (6 new deaths, -40% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,300 (15,596 total cases)
--- 14.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 157 (101 new cases, -47% change from previous week)
#23. Lycoming County
--- 31.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #759 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 6.2 (7 new deaths, +40% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,645 (27,923 total cases)
--- 15.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 248 (281 new cases, -60% change from previous week)
#22. Mercer County
--- 32.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #748 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 3.7 (4 new deaths, -71% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,987 (22,965 total cases)
--- 1.5% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 149 (163 new cases, -39% change from previous week)
#21. Venango County
--- 35.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #668 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 9.9 (5 new deaths, +25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,820 (11,056 total cases)
--- 2.4% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 187 (95 new cases, -44% change from previous week)
#20. Lawrence County
--- 38.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #610 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 10.5 (9 new deaths, +125% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,740 (18,590 total cases)
--- 2.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 149 (127 new cases, -52% change from previous week)
#19. Schuylkill County
--- 38.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #600 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 8.5 (12 new deaths, +50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,887 (33,766 total cases)
--- 12.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 197 (279 new cases, -55% change from previous week)
#18. Tioga County
--- 39.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #585 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.5 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,081 (7,745 total cases)
--- 10.4% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 259 (105 new cases, -27% change from previous week)
#17. Fayette County
--- 41.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #560 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.7 (10 new deaths, +25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,238 (30,041 total cases)
--- 9.1% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 343 (444 new cases, -44% change from previous week)
#16. Forest County
--- 42.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #550 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,371 (2,201 total cases)
--- 42.6% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 483 (35 new cases, +21% change from previous week)
#15. Montour County
--- 44.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #508 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 5.5 (1 new deaths, -50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,993 (4,374 total cases)
--- 12.6% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 346 (63 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
#14. Blair County
--- 45.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #495 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.4 (9 new deaths, -25% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,782 (28,973 total cases)
--- 11.7% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 391 (476 new cases, -32% change from previous week)
#13. Jefferson County
--- 46.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #474 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.3 (1 new deaths, -80% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,071 (8,716 total cases)
--- 5.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 292 (127 new cases, -38% change from previous week)
#12. Armstrong County
--- 49.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #434 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 17.0 (11 new deaths, +10% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,062 (14,929 total cases)
--- 8.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 244 (158 new cases, -11% change from previous week)
#11. Clarion County
--- 52.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #412 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 7.8 (3 new deaths, +50% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,953 (8,054 total cases)
--- 1.6% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 104 (40 new cases, -75% change from previous week)
#10. Warren County
--- 57.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #354 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 5.1 (2 new deaths, -67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,144 (7,111 total cases)
--- 14.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 263 (103 new cases, -39% change from previous week)
#9. Huntingdon County
--- 57.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #336 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.2 (1 new deaths, -90% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,841 (11,214 total cases)
--- 16.6% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 233 (105 new cases, -68% change from previous week)
#8. Somerset County
--- 59.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #307 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 8.2 (6 new deaths, -45% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,987 (18,352 total cases)
--- 17.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 196 (144 new cases, -68% change from previous week)
#7. Cambria County
--- 60.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #293 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 8.4 (11 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,975 (33,818 total cases)
--- 21.9% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 276 (359 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
#6. Potter County
--- 63.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #267 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 12.1 (2 new deaths, +100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,583 (3,071 total cases)
--- 12.8% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 309 (51 new cases, -4% change from previous week)
#5. Bedford County
--- 63.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #265 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.2 (2 new deaths, -71% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,365 (10,710 total cases)
--- 5.0% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 274 (131 new cases, -30% change from previous week)
#4. Sullivan County
--- 64.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #258 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 16.5 (1 new deaths, 0% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,996 (1,031 total cases)
--- 20.2% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 66 (4 new cases, -83% change from previous week)
#3. Northumberland County
--- 68.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #233 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 2.2 (2 new deaths, -71% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,611 (22,357 total cases)
--- 15.5% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 223 (203 new cases, -62% change from previous week)
#2. Mifflin County
--- 72.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #206 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 4.3 (2 new deaths, -67% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,052 (12,020 total cases)
--- 22.3% more cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 427 (197 new cases, -46% change from previous week)

#1. Juniata County
--- 106.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
--- #74 highest rate among all counties nationwide
- New deaths per 100k in the past week: 0.0 (0 new deaths, -100% change from previous week)
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,843 (4,666 total cases)
--- 11.5% less cases per 100k residents than Pennsylvania
- New cases per 100k in the past week: 222 (55 new cases, -49% change from previous week)