Despite the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts, the novel coronavirus continues to spread through the United States. To date, 30,030,084 Americans have been infected with the virus — and 545,022 have died as a result. On a per capita basis, the U.S. has one of the highest known infections rates in the world.
In the Memphis metropolitan area, which covers parts of Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, a total of 137,888 COVID-19 cases have been reported to date. Adjusted for population, there have been 10,244 reported infections for every 100,000 people in the area — above the national rate of 9,179 cases per 100,000 people.
Though per capita cases of COVID-19 are higher in Memphis than they are nationwide, some parts of the metro area are safer than others.
The broader Memphis metro area comprises nine counties or county equivalents — and of them, Shelby County has the fewest COVID-19 cases per capita. So far, there have been a total of 90,257 infections in Shelby County, or 9,632 for every 100,000 people.
Though Shelby County has the lowest per capita infection rate in the Memphis metro area, its per capita fatality rate is closely in line with the regional average.
There have been a total of 166 coronavirus-related deaths for every 100,000 people in Shelby County, compared to 172 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 across the entire Memphis metro area.
All COVID-19 data used in this story are current as of March 31, 2021.
| Rank: | Geography: | COVID cases per 100,000 people: | Total cases: | Deaths per 100,000 people: | Total deaths: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby County | 9,632 | 90,257 | 166 | 1,557 |
| 2 | Tunica County | 10,020 | 1,019 | 246 | 25 |
| 3 | Tate County | 11,203 | 3,192 | 281 | 80 |
| 4 | Tipton County | 11,579 | 7,115 | 169 | 104 |
| 5 | DeSoto County | 11,622 | 20,470 | 140 | 246 |
| 6 | Benton County | 11,681 | 964 | 303 | 25 |
| 7 | Marshall County | 11,795 | 4,221 | 277 | 99 |
| 8 | Crittenden County | 11,954 | 5,859 | 194 | 95 |
| 9 | Fayette County | 12,070 | 4,791 | 197 | 78 |
Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)
Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Take the retirement quiz right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
