To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 19 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether the state has any penalties for non-compliance with COVID-19 legislation to whether the state has required face masks in public and health checks at restaurants. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
| States with the Fewest Restrictions | States with the Most Restrictions |
| 1. South Dakota | 42. Colorado |
| 2. Utah | 43. Arizona |
| 3. Oklahoma | 44. Vermont |
| T-4. Idaho | 45. Oregon |
| T-4. Wyoming | 46. Texas |
| 6. Iowa | 47. New Jersey |
| 7. Wisconsin | 48. Massachusetts |
| 8. North Dakota | 49. North Carolina |
| 9. Arkansas | 50. Pennsylvania |
| 10. Georgia | 51. California |
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, August 10, 2020.
Biggest Changes in Rank from the Previous Report
- Nevada moved from 24 to 14, up 10 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has fully reopened bars.
- Maryland moved from 39 to 32, up 7 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings and that the state still has no work from home requirements or recommendations.
- Kentucky moved from 25 to 38, down 13 positions. This is due in part to the fact that the state prohibits large gatherings of 10 people or more, has new service limits for restaurants and has newly closed bars.
To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-coronavirus-restrictions/73818/
Q&A with WalletHub
What long-term consequences will there be if schools remain closed for part or all of the fall semester?
“If schools remain closed for part or all of the fall semester, one positive impact will be that the spread of COVID-19 among children will be minimized,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Unfortunately, there are many negative consequences that come with keeping schools closed. Students are likely to learn less than they would through classroom instruction, and the achievement gap between wealthy and poor students is projected to widen. Parents with young children will need to make sure the children have supervision at home, which could mean that many parents may be unable to earn a living.”
Should states strictly enforce their COVID-19 restrictions?
“States should strictly enforce their COVID-19 restrictions because otherwise there is no incentive for people to follow the rules. If there are no consequences for disobeying a state’s mask mandate, for example, people will be more likely to try to enter crowded areas without masks, which in turn will contribute to the spread of the virus,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Fines are a good deterrent to make sure Americans follow COVID-19 restrictions, and enforcement will also minimize the need for citizens to play the police.”
Should states that see spikes in COVID-19 deaths just pause their reopening or reinstitute lockdowns?
“States with spikes in COVID-19 deaths should pause their reopening as well as make sure extra preventative measures are in place, like mandatory mask wearing and temperature checks at workplaces and busy transit hubs,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “It may be necessary to reinstitute lockdowns in some places at a micro level, in small communities that are experiencing especially high death and hospitalization rates.”
What should states be most mindful of when reopening?
“States should be most mindful of limiting close contact between residents even as businesses reopen, which means that state legislatures should transition from guidelines on social distancing to laws, such as requiring mask wearing in public places and limiting the number of people per square footage. States can show extra care to vulnerable populations by making sure they are accommodated with free deliveries of essential goods and exclusive hours at all businesses,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Most importantly, state governments need to closely monitor the number of coronavirus cases, prepare for a second wave, and adjust further reopening plans if needed to avoid too much of a strain on hospitals.”
Why does South Dakota rank as the state with the fewest coronavirus restrictions?
“South Dakota ranks as the state with the fewest coronavirus restrictions in part because it is one of only five states that have taken no action on face coverings in public, and it has fully reopened bars,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “South Dakota has lifted all restrictions on large gatherings, and it is one of only five states that never required non-essential businesses to close during the pandemic.”
California has experienced the most coronavirus cases overall in the U.S. How has that impacted the state’s restrictions?
“California has the most coronavirus restrictions in the U.S.,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “The state requires everyone to wear face masks in public, has banned all gatherings and has newly closed non-essential businesses. California is the only state with a limited statewide quarantine in place, while a few other states put restrictions on high-risk individuals only.”