Coronavirus cases are growing faster in red states, new data reveals, with Texas recording a whopping 236% increase in cases in just FOUR DAYS – while infection rates slow in blue state Washington suggesting lockdowns work
- Four of the five states with the largest number of COVID-19 cases are reliable Democratic blue states
- Experts believe their larger populations, more international communities and easier access to testing could account for why this is the case
- However, new data shows COVID-19 cases are now increasing at a more rapid rate in Republican red states, with numbers exploding in Texas and West Virginia
- On the other hand, blue states such as Washington – which reported America’s first COVID-19 case – are beginning to see infection rates slow in comparison
- It’s possible that social distancing measures and partial lockdowns enforced several weeks ago in these blue states is responsible for the slowing
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While traditionally blue states such as New York, New Jersey and California have the highest number of recorded coronavirus cases, new data shows that diagnoses are increasing at a more rapid rate in red states.
Nine of the 10 states that reported the largest percentage increases in COVID-19 cases earlier this week voted for President Trump in 2016, according to Five Thirty Eight.
The publication reveals that Texas clocked a whopping 256% increase in cases between Monday March 23 and Thursday March 27 – making it the state with the fastest growing increase in COVID-19 diagnoses.
On Monday, the Lone Star State only had 352 detected cases. By Thursday, that number had exploded to 1396.
West Virginia, which also went for Trump in 2016, was famously the last US state to report a confirmed case of COVID-19. But between Monday and Thursday, case numbers increased by a staggering 219%.
Conversely, Washington – the first state in the union to report a COVID-19 case – recorded the smallest percentage increase in case numbers. Cases there only increased 29% earlier this week.
While traditionally blue states such as New York, New Jersey and California have the highest number of recorded coronavirus cases, new data shows that diagnoses are increasing at a more rapid rate in red states
A person is taken on a stretcher into the United Memorial Medical Center after going through testing for COVID-19 in Houston, Texas. Coronavirus cases have exploded in the state in recent days
At first glance, it might appear obvious that red states would now be clocking bigger increases, as they had smaller base numbers to begin with.
However, experts suggest that the more people there are with COVID-19 in each state, the quicker the numbers will increase there, given that the virus is highly contagious and each infected person is thought to pass it on to between 1 and 3 other people.
But this does not appear to be the case with the newest data.
It’s possible, then, that social distancing measures and partial-lockdowns implemented in many blue states over the past weeks have helped to slow the spread.
For example, Washington state enforced such measures far earlier than most states, and they are now are seeing the smallest percentage increases in infection.
As many red states have generally not implemented lockdowns in the same widespread manner, their cases numbers could continue to increase at more rapid rates in the coming weeks.
Washington – the first state in the union to report a COVID-19 case – recorded the smallest percentage increase in case numbers. Cases there only increased 29% earlier this week. It could be evidence that social distancing and partial lockdownsimplemented several weeks ago are helping to slow the spread. Empty downtown Seattle is seen Thursday
Blue states, including Washington state, have been testing their residents more on average than red states. A Seattle testing center is pictured
However, for the moment, blue states still have the highest number of coronaviruses cases.
New York state has the most confirmed cases of COVID-19, at 52,318. New Jersey and California are second and third, respectively.
All three of these blue states have large populations, and are popular tourist destinations, which may account – in part- for the high number of cases.
New data also shows that blue states have tested their residents more on average than red states, which could also explain the higher number of confirmed cases.
Six of the 10 states that have completed the most tests per capita voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
As of Saturday afternoon, the US as a whole has reported 112, 480 cases of COVID-19. 1,846 people have died.