RALEIGH – COVID-19 cases are on the rise again in North Carolina – especially across the Triangle – but a new study reports that the state is the second safest in the country from the pandemic.

Based on rates of vaccinations, positive test rates, hsopitalizations and deaths, North Carolina ranks only behind South Dakota in overall population safety, says financial news and information site WalletHub.

North Carolina ranks:

  • First in vaccination rate
  • First in lowest death rate
  • And 23rd in hospitlizations

Data is based on statistics as of Monday.

WalletHub says it “compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. Our data set includes the level of COVID-19 community transmission, the rates of positive testing, hospitalizations and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting vaccinated.”

However, the report may come as little comfort to a growing number of North Carolinians hit by COVID.

Over 17,000 new cases were reported statewide last week, and Wake County’s COVID cases are growing at double the rate of the state as whole. Wake County alone saw 3,665 new cases reported in the week ending May 7. That’s a growth of 36% week-over-week, according to WRAL.com.

You can read the full WalletHub report online.