Special Report

How Current COVID-19 Cases in Massachusetts Compare to the Nation

Samuel Stebbins

Published: July 27, 2021 5:15 am

As the Delta variant spreads, new daily cases of COVID-19 are on the rise once again in much of the United States.

Since the first known COVID-19 case was identified in the U.S. on Jan. 21, 2020, there have been a total of about 34,093,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the United States — or 10,421 for every 100,000 people.

In Massachusetts, the infection rate is slightly lower than the national average. Since the first known case of COVID-19 was reported in Massachusetts on Feb. 1, 2020, there have been 714,014 total infections in the state — or 10,345 for every 100,000 people. Of all 50 states and Washington D.C., Massachusetts ranks No. 32 by cumulative COVID-19 cases, adjusted for population.

Though COVID-19 infections are less concentrated in Massachusetts, deaths are not. So far, there have been 18,035 COVID-19 related deaths in Massachusetts, or 261 for every 100,000 people. Meanwhile, the national COVID-19 death rate stands at 185 per 100,000 Americans.

Massachusetts implemented strict measures early in the pandemic to help slow the virus’s spread. On Mar. 24, 2020, Massachusetts implemented a temporary statewide stay-at-home order to limit person-to-person contact.

All COVID-19 data used in this story are current as of July 23, 2021.

These are all the counties in Massachusetts where COVID-19 is slowing (and where it’s still getting worse).