Hershel Woody Williams VA Medical Center

The US has led the world with over 667,000 deaths due to COVID-19, partly fueled by the spread of the Delta Variant since the spring of 2021. The “Delta Surge” has especially impacted the southern states, despite the rolling out of three effective vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech’s Comirnaty, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen) since early 2021. This is an interim report of each state (50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico), in terms of mortality rate (MR, the number of cumulative deaths per 100,000 population due to COVID-19 by July 27^th, 2021) and Case Rate Progression (CRP, the percent change in the number of cumulative cases per 100,000 population increased from June 1^st to August 1^st, 2021). The study provided an A-F grade report card for each state when compared to one another. The results showed that the states that received F’s in MR are the following (starting from the worst): New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Mississippi. The 3 states that received an A rating were (starting from the best): Hawaii, Vermont, and Alaska. The following states received F’s in CRP (starting from the worst): Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, Missouri, Nevada, and Mississippi. A poor CRP grade reflects rampant increases in new COVID-19 cases, followed by resulting increases in hospitalization, health resource utilization, and mortality. It is critical that we as a nation remain vigilant to observe these lingering effects of COVID-19 by participating in public health efforts, continuing to vaccinate the public, and observing social distancing, healthy hygiene practices, and masking as per CDC guidance.

The US is leading the world in terms of the number of deaths and cases due to COVID-19. After the end of the national lockdown, there has been a significant rise in both new cases and deaths associated with COVID-19—especially in the southern and western states. This study presents an interim report of each state (50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico), in terms of mortality rate (MR, the number of cumulative deaths per 100,000 population due to COVID-19 by July 15, 2020) and Case Rate Progression (CRP, the percent change in the number of cumulative cases per 100,000 population increased from May 31 to July 15, 2020). The study provided an A - F grade report card for each state when compared to one another. The results showed that the states that received F’s in MR are the following (starting from the worst): New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Washington DC, Rhode Island, and Louisiana. The following states received F’s in CRP (starting from the worst): Arizona, Florida, South Carolina, Texas, Idaho, Arkansas, Montana, Alaska, Nevada, and Oklahoma. A poor CRP grade reflects rampant increases in new COVID-19 cases, followed by resulting increases in hospitalization, health resource utilization, and mortality. Some prior high casualty states with MR grades of F (e.g. New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) have maintained low new case counts and received A grades in CRP. They are exemplary in terms of COVID-19 state/region-wide response and public health efforts.