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 Aug. 10 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 92.4 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 67.2% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 48.2% of vaccinated people have received booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Rhode Island 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 Aug. 9, 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.
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Newport County, RI
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 143 (117 new cases, +2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,442 (23,346 total cases)
— 23.2% less cases per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 117 (96 total deaths)
— 65.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.3% (62,653 fully vaccinated)
Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Washington County, RI
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 145 (182 new cases, -2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,963 (37,627 total cases)
— 19.1% less cases per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 194 (243 total deaths)
— 43.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.0% (100,505 fully vaccinated)
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Providence County, RI
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 170 (1,087 new cases, +3% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 38,599 (246,623 total cases)
— 4.2% more cases per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 405 (2,587 total deaths)
— 18.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 71.7% (458,417 fully vaccinated)
Kenneth C. Zirkel // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Bristol County, RI
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 171 (83 new cases, +12% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,519 (15,765 total cases)
— 12.2% less cases per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 369 (179 total deaths)
— 7.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.0% (38,804 fully vaccinated)
Rhode Island Attorney General // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Kent County, RI
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 202 (332 new cases, +4% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,138 (56,086 total cases)
— 7.8% less cases per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 317 (521 total deaths)
— 7.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Rhode Island
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 79.5% (130,614 fully vaccinated)