Hardesthit areas

Here’s a look at some of the areas that have become epicenters in the pandemic.

New York state’s stayhome order took effect on March 22, not long after the Bay Area’s order. But cases there surged after that date. New York City’s weekly case rate curve hit its high in the week of April 612. Since then it appears to have leveled off. The Bay Area’s line is nearly flat in comparison.

An early explanation for why New York City’s case count was so much higher than the Bay Area’s was that the state was testing far more people — at one point three times as many people as California.

But, as the crisis there continued to unfold and overwhelmed hospitals, it became clear there was more at work.

One reason is population density. New

York City has the country’s highest population density, with more than 27,000 people per square mile. San Francisco is also a dense city, but far less so: It has nearly 19,000 people per square mile.

Another factor could be the high reliance on public transportation there.

New York City

Michigan reported its first two coronavirus cases on March 10, including one in Wayne County. The curve shows the area’s first significant increase the week of March 1622, sharply rising to hit its peak the week of March 30April 5 before a steady decline. Michigan’s stayathome order took effect on March 24.

Detroit made headlines for its coronavirus cases, spreading through the city’s police and sheriff ’s departments. No one is sure why the Midwest city of just over 670,000 with a population density of fewer than 5,000 people per square mile saw such a significant increase, but Mayor Mike Duggan has pointed to the international airport, and health officials have said the city was not equipped to manage a public health crisis of this scale.

Wayne County, Mich. (Detroit)