To identify which states are taking the most aggressive actions to combat coronavirus, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 51 key metrics. The data set ranges from tested cases of COVID-19 per capita to school closures, ICU beds, and shelter-in-place policies. Below, you can see highlights from WalletHub’s report, along with a summary of the largest changes in rank from our previous report and a Q&A with WalletHub analysts.
| States with Most Aggressive Measures | States with Least Aggressive Measures |
| 1. New York | 42. Texas |
| 2. District of Columbia | 43. Utah |
| 3. Alaska | 44. Florida |
| 4. Hawaii | 45. Mississippi |
| 5. New Jersey | 46. Arkansas |
| 6. Rhode Island | 47. Wyoming |
| 7. Washington | 48. Alabama |
| 8. Massachusetts | 49. Nebraska |
| 9. New Hampshire | 50. South Dakota |
| 10. West Virginia | 51. Oklahoma |
Note: Rankings reflect data available as of 1 p.m. ET on April 6, 2020.
Biggest Changes in Rank from the Previous Report (on March 24)
- Idaho moved from 48 to 24, up 24 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has increased prevention measures, banning all gatherings and ordering statewide school closures.
- Tennessee moved from 49 to 27, up 22 positions. Some factors that contributed to this include Tennessee’s closure of bars and restaurants, as well as its 12x increase in the number of tests administered per 100,000 residents, from 56.79 to 681.09.
- Utah moved from 19 to 43, down 24 positions, and North Dakota moved from 13 to 38, down 25 positions. Some factors that contributed to this include Utah not activating the national guard and North Dakota not issuing a shelter-in-place order.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/most-aggressive-states-against-coronavirus/72307/
Best,
Diana Polk
WalletHub Communications Manager
(202) 684-6386
Q&A with WalletHub
Why is New York the most aggressive state against the coronavirus?
“New York is the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., and we’re happy to see the state taking the aggressive actions needed to mitigate the spread. Some of the key reasons why New York is the most aggressive state against the coronavirus include the statewide shelter-in-place order and the fact that New York has restricted drugs related to COVID-19 treatment to prevent shortages,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “New York is also one of the states taking protective measures against evictions and utility terminations.”
Why does Oklahoma rank as the least aggressive state against the coronavirus?
“Oklahoma has instituted far fewer state-level measures to fight the coronavirus pandemic than other states have. For example, the state has not closed bars or restaurants, a measure that most states took weeks ago,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “Oklahoma also has not activated the National Guard, which the majority of other states have done.”
What are some of the most aggressive measures states have taken in response to the pandemic?
“One of the most aggressive ways states have attempted to combat coronavirus is to declare stay-home and shelter-in-place orders for all residents,” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “But I don’t think we’ve seen the extent of the aggressive actions that states will take. My expectation is that states will continue tightening shelter-in-place rules, which are now so loose in a lot of cases that anyone can think of an excuse to meet one of the exceptions.”
Is the federal government doing enough for the economy?
“Current efforts are going to seem like throwing pennies in a well unless we take more drastic measures to enforce social distancing across the nation, flood the country with fast testing and get personal protective equipment not just to all medical professionals, but to all Americans,” said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of the finance website WalletHub. “Until we solve the core problem, printing money to throw at the situation will only do so much.”
More on COVID-19 from WalletHub