Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Massachusetts

(Stacker) - Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest COVID-19 infection rates in Massachusetts using data from U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.

Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.

The United States as of May 18 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 83.4 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 66.5% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 46.4% of vaccinated people have received booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Massachusetts using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to May 17, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.

Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.

#14. Nantucket County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 175 (20 new cases, -29% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,599 (3,488 total cases)
15.8% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 140 (16 total deaths)
52.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: not available

#13. Dukes County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 277 (48 new cases, +17% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,759 (3,598 total cases)
21.4% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 0 (0 total deaths)
100.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: not available

#12. Plymouth County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 281 (1,462 new cases, +31% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,145 (120,631 total cases)
12.4% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 323 (1,686 total deaths)
9.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.5% (367,610 fully vaccinated)

#11. Bristol County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 295 (1,670 new cases, +34% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,513 (155,507 total cases)
4.1% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 383 (2,167 total deaths)
29.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.3% (374,765 fully vaccinated)

#10. Franklin County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 298 (209 new cases, +18% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,365 (11,485 total cases)
38.1% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 199 (140 total deaths)
32.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.9% (48,325 fully vaccinated)

#9. Worcester County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 354 (2,938 new cases, +27% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,405 (202,711 total cases)
7.6% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 313 (2,597 total deaths)
5.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.5% (585,650 fully vaccinated)

#8. Essex County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 373 (2,947 new cases, +32% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,310 (215,483 total cases)
3.4% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 350 (2,759 total deaths)
18.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.6% (588,891 fully vaccinated)

#7. Barnstable County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 376 (800 new cases, +2% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,799 (37,910 total cases)
32.6% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 275 (585 total deaths)
7.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: not available

#6. Norfolk County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 378 (2,673 new cases, +23% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,104 (142,092 total cases)
23.9% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 269 (1,904 total deaths)
9.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 79.5% (562,120 fully vaccinated)

#5. Suffolk County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 425 (3,416 new cases, +1% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,255 (227,143 total cases)
6.9% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 250 (2,006 total deaths)
15.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.7% (592,553 fully vaccinated)

#4. Hampden County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 472 (2,199 new cases, +48% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,997 (139,899 total cases)
13.5% more cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 387 (1,806 total deaths)
30.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.3% (309,215 fully vaccinated)

#3. Middlesex County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 476 (7,675 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,053 (355,421 total cases)
16.5% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 248 (4,000 total deaths)
16.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.0% (1,289,513 fully vaccinated)

#2. Hampshire County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 565 (909 new cases, +21% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,348 (31,117 total cases)
26.8% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 223 (358 total deaths)
24.7% less deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 67.4% (108,340 fully vaccinated)

#1. Berkshire County, MA

New cases per 100k in the past week: 760 (950 new cases, +15% change from previous week)
Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,238 (26,536 total cases)
19.6% less cases per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Cumulative deaths per 100k: 303 (379 total deaths)
2.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Massachusetts
Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.2% (74,004 fully vaccinated)