Special Report

This is the City in Mississippi With the Most COVID-19 Cases

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The U.S. has reported more than 34.0 million confirmed COVID-19 cases as of July 27. More than 604,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 — the highest death toll of any country.

Nationwide, there were an average of 12.6 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 Americans in the week ending July 27. Cumulatively, the U.S. has reported 10,279.5 cases per 100,000 Americans, and 184.3 deaths per 100,000 Americans.

In Mississippi, there were an average of 16.2 daily new coronavirus cases per 100,000 residents in the week ending July 27. Cumulatively, Mississippi has reported 10,980.8 cases per 100,000 state residents, the 22nd most of all 50 states. Mississippi has reported 251.8 deaths per 100,000, the fifth most of all 50 states.

While the nation’s largest metropolitan areas were hit hardest in the early months of the pandemic, nearly every city has suffered from the virus. Outbreaks are particularly likely to occur in places where large numbers of people tend to congregate, leaving cities with high concentrations of colleges, correctional facilities, and nursing homes particularly at risk.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Hattiesburg metropolitan area has reported 18,837 confirmed cases, or 11,200.7 per 100,000 residents — the most of any city in Mississippi.

Jackson, the city with the second most cases per capita, has reported 9,915.1 cases per 100,000 residents.

The coronavirus crisis has led to widespread unemployment across the country as consumer-facing businesses are forced to close and customers are encouraged to stay home. Unemployment in Hattiesburg peaked at 13.3% in April 2020, and is now at 5.6% as of May 2021.

To determine the metropolitan area in each state with the highest number of COVID-19 cases per capita, 24/7 Wall St. compiled and reviewed data from state and local health departments. We ranked metropolitan areas according to the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents as of July 27. Data was aggregated from the county level to the metropolitan area level using boundary definitions from the U.S. Census Bureau. Population data used to adjust case and death totals came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey and are five-year estimates.

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

MSA Population Total cases Cases per 100,000 Total deaths Deaths per 100,000
Hattiesburg, MS 168,177 18,837 11,200.7 365 217.0
Jackson, MS 597,727 59,265 9,915.1 1,250 209.1
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS 412,115 39,572 9,602.2 699 169.6

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