Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Alabama

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. Early research suggests this strain may cause less severe illness than Delta and the original virus, however, health officials have warned an Omicron-driven surge could still increase hospitalization and death rates—especially in areas with less vaccinated populations.

The United States as of March 10 reached 964,448 COVID-19-related deaths and 79.4 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 65.2% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 44.1% have received booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Alabama 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 March 9, 2021. 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.

MPearsallArt // Wikimedia Commons

#50. Morgan County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 40 (48 new cases, -80% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,987 (35,888 total cases)
— 14.2% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 407 (487 total deaths)
— 6.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.3% (51,800 fully vaccinated)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#49. Cherokee County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 42 (11 new cases, -61% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,457 (5,097 total cases)
— 25.9% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 309 (81 total deaths)
— 18.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 30.4% (7,953 fully vaccinated)

Mccallk69 // Shutterstock

#48. Macon County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 44 (8 new cases, -20% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,253 (3,840 total cases)
— 19.1% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 432 (78 total deaths)
— 13.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.3% (8,541 fully vaccinated)

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#47. Coffee County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 44 (23 new cases, -21% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,456 (13,324 total cases)
— 3.1% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 434 (227 total deaths)
— 13.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.8% (24,478 fully vaccinated)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#46. Henry County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 46 (8 new cases, -60% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,847 (4,447 total cases)
— 1.6% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 413 (71 total deaths)
— 8.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.0% (7,748 fully vaccinated)

RuralSWAlabama (Billy Milstead) // Wikimedia Commons

#45. Choctaw County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 48 (6 new cases, -84% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 16,197 (2,039 total cases)
— 38.3% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 278 (35 total deaths)
— 27.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 65.5% (8,240 fully vaccinated)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#44. Autauga County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 48 (27 new cases, -65% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,828 (15,547 total cases)
— 6.0% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 365 (204 total deaths)
— 4.2% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.6% (24,350 fully vaccinated)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#43. Franklin County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 48 (15 new cases, -65% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,334 (9,827 total cases)
— 19.3% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 437 (137 total deaths)
— 14.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.2% (13,561 fully vaccinated)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#42. Elmore County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 49 (40 new cases, -41% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,214 (22,912 total cases)
— 7.4% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 411 (334 total deaths)
— 7.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.6% (37,068 fully vaccinated)

Chris Pruitt // wikicommons

#41. Montgomery County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (115 new cases, -36% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,063 (54,499 total cases)
— 8.4% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 391 (886 total deaths)
— 2.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.4% (116,474 fully vaccinated)

Wayne James // Shutterstock

#40. Lauderdale County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (47 new cases, -64% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,850 (23,970 total cases)
— 1.6% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 404 (375 total deaths)
— 6.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.2% (42,796 fully vaccinated)

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Lowndes County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (5 new cases, +400% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,753 (2,602 total cases)
— 1.9% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 771 (75 total deaths)
— 102.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.3% (4,891 fully vaccinated)

Altairisfar // Wikimedia Commons

#38. Clarke County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (12 new cases, -59% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,870 (7,056 total cases)
— 13.7% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 411 (97 total deaths)
— 7.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.7% (11,981 fully vaccinated)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#37. Randolph County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 53 (12 new cases, +20% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,247 (5,055 total cases)
— 15.3% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 326 (74 total deaths)
— 14.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 32.5% (7,390 fully vaccinated)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#36. Tallapoosa County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 54 (22 new cases, -41% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,045 (11,321 total cases)
— 6.8% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 560 (226 total deaths)
— 47.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.2% (15,427 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#35. Walker County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 60 (38 new cases, -49% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,135 (18,507 total cases)
— 10.9% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 667 (424 total deaths)
— 75.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.8% (29,731 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#34. Sumter County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 64 (8 new cases, -74% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 20,624 (2,563 total cases)
— 21.5% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 386 (48 total deaths)
— 1.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.5% (6,276 fully vaccinated)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#33. Crenshaw County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 65 (9 new cases, +80% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,440 (3,779 total cases)
— 4.5% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 690 (95 total deaths)
— 81.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 34.2% (4,707 fully vaccinated)

Jodybwiki // Wikimedia Commons

#32. Baldwin County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 66 (148 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,698 (55,135 total cases)
— 6.0% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 294 (656 total deaths)
— 22.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.2% (112,169 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#31. Perry County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 67 (6 new cases, -25% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,423 (2,090 total cases)
— 10.8% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 482 (43 total deaths)
— 26.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.1% (4,293 fully vaccinated)

Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Houston County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (73 new cases, -31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,570 (24,956 total cases)
— 10.3% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 456 (483 total deaths)
— 19.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.8% (45,314 fully vaccinated)

Pixabay

#29. Madison County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 69 (258 new cases, -56% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,737 (88,518 total cases)
— 9.6% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 242 (904 total deaths)
— 36.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.1% (227,956 fully vaccinated)

Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Limestone County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 70 (69 new cases, -50% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,006 (24,735 total cases)
— 4.8% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 279 (276 total deaths)
— 26.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.7% (38,256 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#27. DeKalb County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 71 (51 new cases, -39% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,030 (18,615 total cases)
— 0.9% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 439 (314 total deaths)
— 15.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 33.5% (23,937 fully vaccinated)

Chris Pruitt // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Cullman County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 75 (63 new cases, -57% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,177 (24,441 total cases)
— 11.1% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 424 (355 total deaths)
— 11.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 37.9% (31,784 fully vaccinated)

Wmr36104 // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Geneva County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 80 (21 new cases, -34% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,608 (6,202 total cases)
— 10.1% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 594 (156 total deaths)
— 55.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.0% (10,512 fully vaccinated)

Dailynetworks // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Colbert County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 80 (44 new cases, -53% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,313 (16,193 total cases)
— 11.6% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 442 (244 total deaths)
— 16.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.7% (26,326 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#23. Winston County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 85 (20 new cases, -55% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,978 (7,556 total cases)
— 21.8% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 512 (121 total deaths)
— 34.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 21.8% (5,153 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#22. Wilcox County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 87 (9 new cases, -31% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,620 (2,865 total cases)
— 5.2% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 415 (43 total deaths)
— 8.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.3% (5,533 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#21. Bibb County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 89 (20 new cases, +33% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,557 (6,395 total cases)
— 8.7% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 442 (99 total deaths)
— 16.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 34.4% (7,713 fully vaccinated)

DXR // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Dallas County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 94 (35 new cases, +21% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,427 (8,342 total cases)
— 14.6% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 626 (233 total deaths)
— 64.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.8% (16,671 fully vaccinated)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Cleburne County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 101 (15 new cases, +67% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,796 (3,548 total cases)
— 9.4% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 456 (68 total deaths)
— 19.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 28.5% (4,245 fully vaccinated)

JNix // Shutterstock

#18. Clay County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 106 (14 new cases, +180% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,827 (4,080 total cases)
— 17.4% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 589 (78 total deaths)
— 54.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.3% (5,469 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#17. Lawrence County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 109 (36 new cases, -40% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,090 (7,602 total cases)
— 12.1% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 465 (153 total deaths)
— 22.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.8% (15,417 fully vaccinated)

Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Coosa County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 122 (13 new cases, -32% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,469 (2,929 total cases)
— 4.6% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 516 (55 total deaths)
— 35.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.3% (4,294 fully vaccinated)

Springfieldohio // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Jackson County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 132 (68 new cases, +51% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,005 (14,974 total cases)
— 10.4% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 446 (230 total deaths)
— 17.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.8% (25,202 fully vaccinated)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Blount County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 140 (81 new cases, -4% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,686 (14,853 total cases)
— 2.2% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (227 total deaths)
— 3.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 31.4% (18,143 fully vaccinated)

Altairisfar // Wikicommons

#13. Mobile County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 161 (665 new cases, -6% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,307 (112,836 total cases)
— 4.0% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 385 (1,590 total deaths)
— 1.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.1% (202,840 fully vaccinated)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Talladega County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 165 (132 new cases, -47% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,746 (22,191 total cases)
— 5.6% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 446 (357 total deaths)
— 17.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.3% (29,004 fully vaccinated)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Marion County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 172 (51 new cases, +16% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,009 (8,024 total cases)
— 2.8% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 495 (147 total deaths)
— 29.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.1% (10,729 fully vaccinated)

Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Washington County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 184 (30 new cases, 0% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,780 (3,719 total cases)
— 13.3% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 349 (57 total deaths)
— 8.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.6% (7,452 fully vaccinated)

Myself – Nathon Morris // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Lamar County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 188 (26 new cases, -60% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,679 (3,683 total cases)
— 1.6% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 449 (62 total deaths)
— 17.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.6% (6,016 fully vaccinated)

Public Domain

#8. Pickens County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 191 (38 new cases, -28% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,091 (5,200 total cases)
— 0.7% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 492 (98 total deaths)
— 29.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.8% (9,724 fully vaccinated)

Rudi Weikard // Wikimedia Commons

#7. St. Clair County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 233 (209 new cases, +146% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,109 (25,161 total cases)
— 7.0% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 451 (404 total deaths)
— 18.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.7% (34,685 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#6. Chilton County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 243 (108 new cases, -19% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,147 (10,728 total cases)
— 8.1% less cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 439 (195 total deaths)
— 15.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.0% (16,000 fully vaccinated)

Canva

#5. Fayette County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 245 (40 new cases, -83% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,328 (4,944 total cases)
— 15.5% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 570 (93 total deaths)
— 49.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 34.7% (5,653 fully vaccinated)

M Floyd // Flickr

#4. Jefferson County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 268 (1,768 new cases, +309% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,887 (183,655 total cases)
— 6.2% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 341 (2,247 total deaths)
— 10.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 57.4% (377,754 fully vaccinated)

Tracy Burroughs Brown // Shutterstock

#3. Tuscaloosa County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 283 (592 new cases, +27% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,377 (55,222 total cases)
— 0.4% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 353 (738 total deaths)
— 7.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.2% (90,541 fully vaccinated)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Calhoun County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 333 (378 new cases, +23% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,283 (32,131 total cases)
— 7.7% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 526 (597 total deaths)
— 38.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (52,714 fully vaccinated)

Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Shelby County, AL

– New cases per 100k in the past week: 558 (1,215 new cases, +417% change from previous week)
– Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,563 (60,006 total cases)
— 4.9% more cases per 100k residents than Alabama
– Cumulative deaths per 100k: 196 (426 total deaths)
— 48.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Alabama
– Population that is fully vaccinated: 35.9% (78,125 fully vaccinated)