Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Friday, May 15, 2020

1% of Counties Home to Half of COVID-19 Cases, Over Half of Deaths

As Heritage Foundation researchers have demonstrated throughout the pandemic, the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. has been extremely concentrated in a small number of states—and among a small number of counties within all states.

As of May 11, for example, 10 states accounted for almost 70% of all U.S. cases and nearly 75% of all deaths (but only 52% of the population). Together, New York and New Jersey alone account for 35% of all cases and 44% of total COVID-19 deaths, though only 9% of the U.S. population.

These state-level figures do not, however, adequately describe the concentrated nature of the spread of COVID-19.

The 30 counties with the most COVID-19 cases, for example, account for 48% of all the cases in the U.S. and 55% of all deaths, three to four times greater than their 15% share of the U.S. population.

That is, just 1% of all counties, representing 15% of the U.S. population, are responsible for almost half of the country’s COVID-19 cases and more than half of the deaths.

Of those 30 counties, 24 are in the Northeast corridor between Philadelphia and Boston, the passageway served by a commuter railway system that runs through Manhattan.

Overall, only about 10% of all counties contain 95% of all the COVID-19 deaths, even though they account for 64% of the population.

More

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you take it a step further and look at neighborhoods within counties it is the low income neighborhoods where the outbreaks are centered. Of course a few anomalies here and there but for the most part this virus was limited to nursing homes and the low income. This is why NY hospitals didn't get overwhelmed and the Comfort or the temp hospitals a waste of time and money. When the hospitals in the low income areas were about to get overwhelmed patients were taken to ones in Manhattan

Anonymous said...

Really too early in the pandemic to make these assertions. Some counties didn't get their first case until months after NY. In the beginning NYC by itself accounted for more than 50% of total cases but as they drop others have risen and their % drops. It will be years before we see the true impact report. The final 2009 H1N1 report didnt come out until 2017.

Anonymous said...

944 you are only partially right. Yes, this virus hit old folks homes and low income areas hard. If measures had not been taken, those same folks would have further passed the virus to everyone else. Example: these are the people sharing the metro with everyone. They are the people serving your food and beverage. In which case hospitals would have been overwhelmed. You plan for the worst and hope for the best. Failure to do so creates a disaster

Anonymous said...

The virus was released in specific areas and allowed to drift among the population. NY City, Seattle, LA, and New Orleans appear to be the targets. What was released in NY seems to be especially virulent.

Anonymous said...

10:15 clearly doesn’t understand statistical analysis. This article points to the flawed worldwide analysis of numbers. Stats are only as reliable as the standards used for entry. Clearly different states are logging the virus and associated deaths in different ways. To say that enough time hasnt passed is equally inaccurate. We know now definitely that cases in both Florida and California have surfaced since November. We also know that all testing worldwide has been at least flawed and woefully limited. There’s no question this virus is dangerous. How dangerous and for who we are likely never to know since the science is flawed and reliable tallying is impossible to determine. When you add external motivations, the problem is compounded which in this case is becoming a clear reality and issue on both sides, all you have is indeterminate fear.

Cracker said...

I agree 10:54, I noticed that when it first started too. East coast, west coast ... fill in the dots.

Anonymous said...

10:54
I appreciate your comment.
I guess you are aware that most people disagree with you. The government has denied releasing the weapon. Most Americans believe what the US Government and MSM tells them.

Sad

Anonymous said...

Why do you think low income people? Immigrants? I don't remember spending any money on "the Virus". Immigrants get free health insurance - so do low income" . Emergency rooms are their doctors. Why then - low income?

Anonymous said...

10:54
I agree 100%