Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Florida

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 May 11 reached 998,305 COVID-19-related deaths and 82.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 66.3% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 46.1% of vaccinated people have received booster doses.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Florida 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 May 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.

#50. Okaloosa County, FL

• New cases per 100k in the past week: 49 (104 new cases, +28% change from previous week)
• Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,614 (51,870 total cases)
• 11.6% less cases per 100k residents than Florida
• Cumulative deaths per 100k: 326 (688 total deaths)
• 5.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Florida

#49. Wakulla County, FL

• Population that is fully vaccinated: 64.3% (135,492 fully vaccinated)
• New cases per 100k in the past week: 50 (17 new cases, +143% change from previous week)
• Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,598 (9,986 total cases)
• 6.3% more cases per 100k residents than Florida
• Cumulative deaths per 100k: 370 (125 total deaths)
• 7.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Florida
• Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.0% (15,197 fully vaccinated)

#48. Gulf County, FL

• New cases per 100k in the past week: 51 (7 new cases, +250% change from previous week)
• Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,645 (4,316 total cases)
• — 13.7% more cases per 100k residents than Florida
• Cumulative deaths per 100k: 579 (79 total deaths)
• — 67.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Florida
• Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.1% (7,111 fully vaccinated)

#47. Putnam County, FL

• New cases per 100k in the past week: 52 (39 new cases, +39% change from previous week)
• Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,742 (17,693 total cases)
• 14.7% less cases per 100k residents than Florida
• Cumulative deaths per 100k: 569 (424 total deaths)
• 64.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Florida
• Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.1% (31,400 fully vaccinated)

#46. Santa Rosa County, FL

• New cases per 100k in the past week: 52 (96 new cases, +60% change from previous week)
• Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,505 (48,853 total cases)
• 4.8% less cases per 100k residents than Florida
• Cumulative deaths per 100k: 337 (621 total deaths)
• 2.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Florida
• Population that is fully vaccinated: 54.4% (100,193 fully vaccinated)

#45. Bay…