Based on population, Tennessee has the most COVID-19 cases in the United States – Tennessean

Tennessee has the most coronavirus infections of all U.S. states in the past sevendays and over the entire pandemic when adjusted for population, according to data compiled by The New York Times.

The grim milestone is one of many Tennessee has unfortunately been a part of since confirming its first COVID-19 case over 18months ago. This includes last December, when Tennessee was classified by some accounts as the epicenter ofCOVID-19 in the United States.

Tennesseeaveragedover 8,300 new infections each day over the last seven days and has seen a totalof 1.15 million cases since the pandemic began, as of Monday. When adjusting these numbers on a per population basis, Tennessee has surpassed states like North Dakota and Florida in total cases during the COVID-19 pandemic for the time being.

The coronavirus has killed 14,010 or about 1 out of every 500 Tennesseans and is averaging 41new deaths per day for the past seven days. At the current rate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecast model predicts Tennessee will surpass 15,000 deaths in the next three or four weeks.

The state's average positivity rate for the past seven days fell on Friday below 20% for the first since Sept. 1. The rate of 19.2% still suggests many COVID-19 infections are going undetected.

Hospital data collected by the Tennessee Department of Health shows a slight drop in those hospitalized by the virus. Around 3,700 Tennesseans were hospitalized because of COVID-19, about 140less than a peak three days prior.

Nashville cases: About 56.5% of COVID-19 cases occurring in Metro Nashville middle and high schools

COVID in schools: Tennessee education advocates, clergy call for state leaders to do more to control spread of COVID-19 in schools

Around 51% of Tennesseans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Over the past week, the number of shots given has decreased to about 8,100 new people receiving the vaccine each day. For most of August and September, over 10,000 Tennesseans were getting vaccinated eachday.

An executive order signed by President Joe Bidenmandatesbusinesses with more than 100 employees must require vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing. ButGov. Bill Lee has vowed to fight the mandate, calling it unconstitutional.

The number of new vaccinations is still higher than the state's previous low of less than 4,000 new doses given each day in mid-July.

Brett Kelman contributed to this report.

Adam Friedman is The Tennesseans evening reportercoveringbreaking news, crime, cops and a little bit of everything else. If you have a news tip, he wants it. Email himat afriedman@tennessean.com or call him at 731-431-8517.

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Based on population, Tennessee has the most COVID-19 cases in the United States - Tennessean