This public use dataset has 11 data elements reflecting COVID-19 community levels for all available counties. This dataset contains the same values used to display information available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels-county-map.html.

CDC looks at the combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days — to determine the COVID-19 community level. The COVID-19 community level is determined by the higher of the new admissions and inpatient beds metrics, based on the current level of new cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days. New COVID-19 admissions and the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied represent the current potential for strain on the health system. Data on new cases acts as an early warning indicator of potential increases in health system strain in the event of a COVID-19 surge.

Using these data, the COVID-19 community level is classified as low, medium , or high.

COVID-19 Community Levels can help communities and individuals make decisions based on their local context and their unique needs. Community vaccination coverage and other local information, like early alerts from surveillance, such as through wastewater or the number of emergency department visits for COVID-19, when available, can also inform decision making for health officials and individuals. See https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/community-levels.html for more information.

Visit CDC’s COVID Data Tracker County View* to learn more about the individual metrics used for CDC’s COVID-19 community level in your county. Please note that county-level data are not available for territories. Go to https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.