COVID-19 and Your State

Driven by Data

The battle against the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, hinges heavily on adherence to guidelines calling for social and physical distancing, the wearing of masks to prevent the virus’ spread, a state’s testing capability and medical capacity, and production and acceptance of an effective vaccine.

Underpinning these efforts is pandemic-related data that can inform both government and individual decisions on mandated precautions and acceptable, personal risks. The data at the links above comes from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USAFacts. Users can search for and see the direct impact of the coronavirus on their state now and over time, while metrics such as unemployment rate and unemployment insurance claims can indicate how the virus is impacting individuals’ finances and a state’s economy.

Along with the data-driven journalism integral to the mission of Best States and U.S. News & World Report, these datasets and visualizations can serve as tools to inform residents, public health leaders and government officials about which pandemic-related policies and practices will drive better health outcomes for all.

The COVID-19 data on this page is part of the U.S. News Best States platform, an annual ranking of U.S. states that draws on thousands of data points to measure how well states are performing for their citizens. Explore the 2021 rankings and more data-driven content from U.S. News below.