Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in California
Rman 348 // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in California
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 Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in California 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 Nov. 10, 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.
Canva
#50. Calaveras County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 30 (14 new cases, -7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,930 (9,149 total cases)
— 30.9% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 294 (135 total deaths)
— 20.5% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.1% (24,829 fully vaccinated)
Mark Miller // Wikimedia Commons
#49. Merced County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 32 (88 new cases, -41% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,492 (84,671 total cases)
— 5.7% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 313 (870 total deaths)
— 28.3% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.6% (148,969 fully vaccinated)
Public Domain
#48. Madera County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 32 (51 new cases, -9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,409 (52,561 total cases)
— 15.8% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 238 (375 total deaths)
— 2.5% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.9% (87,916 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#47. Sierra County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 33 (1 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 12,280 (369 total cases)
— 57.4% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 166 (5 total deaths)
— 32.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.8% (1,587 fully vaccinated)
Scott Burley // Wikimedia Commons
#46. Modoc County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 34 (3 new cases, +200% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 13,720 (1,213 total cases)
— 52.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 124 (11 total deaths)
— 49.2% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.5% (3,756 fully vaccinated)
Basar // Wikicommons
#45. San Luis Obispo County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 34 (95 new cases, +4% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,066 (70,964 total cases)
— 13.1% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 185 (525 total deaths)
— 24.2% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.5% (185,334 fully vaccinated)
Fred Hsu // Wikicommons
#44. Sonoma County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 37 (181 new cases, -17% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,949 (113,445 total cases)
— 20.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 106 (525 total deaths)
— 56.6% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 80.4% (397,581 fully vaccinated)
Pixabay
#43. Santa Barbara County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 37 (165 new cases, -12% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,441 (113,595 total cases)
— 11.8% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 164 (733 total deaths)
— 32.8% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 70.8% (316,128 fully vaccinated)
Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons
#42. Lassen County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 39 (12 new cases, -33% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 36,019 (11,012 total cases)
— 24.8% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 213 (65 total deaths)
— 12.7% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 29.6% (9,047 fully vaccinated)
Hollywood // Wikimedia Commons
#41. Orange County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 40 (1,274 new cases, -2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,182 (736,190 total cases)
— 19.7% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 238 (7,546 total deaths)
— 2.5% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.3% (2,360,214 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#40. Ventura County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 42 (356 new cases, +5% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,749 (226,302 total cases)
— 7.3% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 187 (1,585 total deaths)
— 23.4% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 73.6% (622,873 fully vaccinated)
Kglavin // Wikimedia Commons
#39. Marin County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 43 (111 new cases, -31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,815 (51,287 total cases)
— 31.3% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 121 (314 total deaths)
— 50.4% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 89.9% (232,798 fully vaccinated)
Binksternet // Wikimedia Commons
#38. Mendocino County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 43 (37 new cases, +32% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,849 (20,689 total cases)
— 17.4% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 158 (137 total deaths)
— 35.2% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.8% (60,579 fully vaccinated)
Michael Patrick // Wikimedia Commons
#37. San Benito County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 43 (27 new cases, -37% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,598 (17,334 total cases)
— 4.4% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 172 (108 total deaths)
— 29.5% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.3% (46,654 fully vaccinated)
Doug Kerr // Wikicommons
#36. Shasta County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 44 (80 new cases, +29% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,739 (42,749 total cases)
— 17.7% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 330 (594 total deaths)
— 35.2% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (85,298 fully vaccinated)
Doug Olson // Wikimedia Commons
#35. Placer County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 45 (179 new cases, +10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,620 (86,120 total cases)
— 25.1% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 166 (662 total deaths)
— 32.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.7% (273,554 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#34. Tulare County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 45 (212 new cases, +64% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,109 (159,016 total cases)
— 18.2% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 331 (1,544 total deaths)
— 35.7% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.8% (260,130 fully vaccinated)
Calilover // Wikimedia Commons
#33. Monterey County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 46 (199 new cases, +28% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,704 (115,913 total cases)
— 7.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 178 (772 total deaths)
— 27.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.7% (324,292 fully vaccinated)
EPoelzl // Wikimedia Commons
#32. Mariposa County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 47 (8 new cases, -11% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,270 (3,487 total cases)
— 29.8% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 186 (32 total deaths)
— 23.8% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.7% (8,201 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#31. Butte County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 47 (104 new cases, -34% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,378 (49,050 total cases)
— 22.4% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 211 (462 total deaths)
— 13.5% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.2% (118,899 fully vaccinated)
DimiTalen // Wikimedia Commons
#30. El Dorado County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 48 (93 new cases, -18% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,200 (37,026 total cases)
— 33.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 120 (232 total deaths)
— 50.8% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.3% (120,067 fully vaccinated)
David Jordan // Wikicommons
#29. Fresno County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 49 (487 new cases, -12% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,863 (308,354 total cases)
— 7.0% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 289 (2,887 total deaths)
— 18.4% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.7% (626,150 fully vaccinated)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District // Wikimedia Commons
#28. Yuba County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 50 (39 new cases, -30% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,480 (20,831 total cases)
— 8.2% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 168 (132 total deaths)
— 31.1% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.6% (39,840 fully vaccinated)
Public Domain
#27. Stanislaus County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 50 (275 new cases, -16% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,183 (160,700 total cases)
— 1.1% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 324 (1,785 total deaths)
— 32.8% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.3% (321,158 fully vaccinated)
Daniel Orth // Flickr
#26. Riverside County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 50 (1,241 new cases, +25% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,792 (736,018 total cases)
— 3.2% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 270 (6,660 total deaths)
— 10.7% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.2% (1,487,401 fully vaccinated)
CFang // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Lake County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (33 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,964 (14,142 total cases)
— 23.9% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 231 (149 total deaths)
— 5.3% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.1% (36,101 fully vaccinated)
Cory Maylett // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Humboldt County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 52 (71 new cases, +1% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,135 (27,295 total cases)
— 30.2% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 118 (160 total deaths)
— 51.6% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 68.1% (92,272 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#23. San Bernardino County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 53 (1,146 new cases, +16% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 32,439 (707,190 total cases)
— 12.4% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 373 (8,126 total deaths)
— 52.9% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.2% (1,269,725 fully vaccinated)
LPS.1 // Wikicommons
#22. San Joaquin County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 54 (411 new cases, +7% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,077 (213,992 total cases)
— 2.7% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 307 (2,340 total deaths)
— 25.8% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 63.7% (485,407 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#21. Sacramento County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 55 (853 new cases, +6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,777 (384,559 total cases)
— 14.1% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 216 (3,358 total deaths)
— 11.5% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.5% (1,079,317 fully vaccinated)
Aaronbrick // Wikicommons
#20. Santa Cruz County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 56 (152 new cases, -18% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,774 (67,687 total cases)
— 14.1% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 100 (274 total deaths)
— 59.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 77.4% (211,543 fully vaccinated)
Bobak Ha’Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Amador County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 63 (25 new cases, +47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,694 (11,009 total cases)
— 4.0% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 239 (95 total deaths)
— 2.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.5% (21,252 fully vaccinated)
MARELBU // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Contra Costa County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (747 new cases, +2% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,807 (274,618 total cases)
— 17.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 127 (1,469 total deaths)
— 48.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 84.3% (972,662 fully vaccinated)
Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Tehama County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (42 new cases, +45% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,873 (16,839 total cases)
— 10.3% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 332 (216 total deaths)
— 36.1% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.9% (28,599 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#16. Solano County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 67 (298 new cases, -9% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,521 (114,241 total cases)
— 11.6% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 105 (468 total deaths)
— 57.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 69.3% (310,044 fully vaccinated)
Uladzik Kryhin // Shutterstock
#15. Santa Clara County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 68 (1,308 new cases, +10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,717 (457,233 total cases)
— 17.8% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 131 (2,535 total deaths)
— 46.3% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 87.4% (1,685,675 fully vaccinated)
Ray Bouknight // Wikicommons
#14. Sutter County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (67 new cases, +49% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,851 (27,007 total cases)
— 3.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 242 (235 total deaths)
— 0.8% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.4% (59,551 fully vaccinated)
Jennifer Williams // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Alameda County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 72 (1,207 new cases, +10% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,291 (372,556 total cases)
— 22.8% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 123 (2,050 total deaths)
— 49.6% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 84.1% (1,404,931 fully vaccinated)
SD Dirk // Flickr
#12. San Diego County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 73 (2,437 new cases, +17% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,163 (1,006,956 total cases)
— 4.5% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 166 (5,538 total deaths)
— 32.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 76.3% (2,546,657 fully vaccinated)
Armona // Wikicommons
#11. Kings County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 73 (111 new cases, -6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,892 (64,069 total cases)
— 45.2% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 301 (461 total deaths)
— 23.4% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (70,921 fully vaccinated)
nickchapman // Wikicommons
#10. Kern County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 74 (667 new cases, +43% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,709 (285,449 total cases)
— 9.9% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 270 (2,430 total deaths)
— 10.7% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.9% (494,333 fully vaccinated)
Chuck Abbe // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Inyo County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 78 (14 new cases, +133% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,589 (5,518 total cases)
— 6.0% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 333 (60 total deaths)
— 36.5% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.8% (11,689 fully vaccinated)
Frank Schulenburg // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Nevada County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 81 (81 new cases, +80% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,141 (21,089 total cases)
— 26.7% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 132 (132 total deaths)
— 45.9% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.4% (64,230 fully vaccinated)
BDS2006 // Wikimedia
#7. Los Angeles County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 84 (8,482 new cases, +23% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,841 (3,497,761 total cases)
— 20.7% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 337 (33,784 total deaths)
— 38.1% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 74.9% (7,520,321 fully vaccinated)
Trance addict // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Glenn County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 92 (26 new cases, +271% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,292 (7,465 total cases)
— 8.9% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 169 (48 total deaths)
— 30.7% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.3% (15,982 fully vaccinated)
Epolk // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Yolo County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 94 (207 new cases, +116% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,799 (52,477 total cases)
— 17.5% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 161 (354 total deaths)
— 34.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.9% (160,809 fully vaccinated)
Craig Howell // Wikimedia Commons
#4. San Mateo County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 95 (728 new cases, +39% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,724 (181,864 total cases)
— 17.8% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 98 (748 total deaths)
— 59.8% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 86.9% (666,368 fully vaccinated)
Bobak Ha’Eri // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Tuolumne County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 99 (54 new cases, +286% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,581 (16,660 total cases)
— 6.0% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 369 (201 total deaths)
— 51.2% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.2% (28,986 fully vaccinated)
Canva
#2. San Francisco County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 110 (974 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,015 (194,074 total cases)
— 23.7% less cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 122 (1,072 total deaths)
— 50.0% less deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 85.7% (755,410 fully vaccinated)
Rman 348 // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Imperial County, CA
– New cases per 100k in the past week: 146 (264 new cases, -13% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 45,469 (82,396 total cases)
— 57.6% more cases per 100k residents than California
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 530 (960 total deaths)
— 117.2% more deaths per 100k residents than California
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 95.0% (180,206 fully vaccinated)
