How do Idaho’s COVID-19 numbers compare to its Western neighbors? Some good, some bad
Idaho has one of the West’s worst COVID-19 infection rates but some of its best death rates, according to data published by each of the 11 Western states in the Lower 48.
The Idaho Statesman has been updating the Western numbers periodically throughout the pandemic.
Since our last update May 13, Idaho’s summer coronavirus spike has lifted the state from eighth to fourth in confirmed cases per capita.
In the charts below, you’ll see that Idaho also ranks 10th in testing per capita (only Oregon has conducted fewer tests by population) while having the second-highest percentage of tests come back positive.
However, Idaho is in the middle of the pack in deaths per capita and has the third-lowest case fatality rate. For the purposes of this comparison, the fatality rates are based on deaths per confirmed case. However, the better number is deaths per total cases (confirmed plus probable) — so the actual rates are slightly lower.
Arizona has had the worst numbers, ranking No. 1 in cases and deaths per capita. Wyoming — with the smallest population in the West — has had the fewest cases and fewest deaths per capita.
This story was originally published September 10, 2020 at 4:00 AM.
