Coronavirus illustration, created at the CDC
The primary way coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads is through close interaction with other people, according to the World Health Organization. If people come into contact with droplets exhaled or coughed out by infected people, they are at risk of getting the virus. In response, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that Americans use “social distancing.” This includes canceling large events and staying at least six feet away from others when possible, among other measures to limit close contact.
Many states have taken the CDC’s advice and have legally enforced social distancing, to the point of banning even small gatherings, closing all non-essential businesses, shutting down schools and even ordering residents to shelter in place in some cases. In fact, over half of the 50 states have some form of lockdown in effect. Other states have focused on laws ensuring greater funding for combating the pandemic or guaranteeing that treatment is covered by insurance. Some states have even taken hygiene into their own hands – for example, New York is manufacturing its own hand sanitizer to deal with shortages. Many states have also moved back their tax deadlines following the federal government’s decision to do the same.
In order to determine the states that are most and least aggressive in their efforts to limit exposure to coronavirus, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 51 unique metrics. Our data set ranges from tested cases of COVID-19 per capita and state legislation on the pandemic to the uninsured population and share of the workforce in affected industries. Read on for the ranking and a complete description of our methodology.
Alongside this report, WalletHub also asked Americans how they feel about the pandemic directly with its Coronavirus and Money Survey. This survey examined how the virus has affected Americans’ daily life and spending habits.
