Rhode Island has taken the most aggressive measures against COVID-19, while Wyoming has taken the least, according to a March 17 WalletHub report.
WalletHub, a personal finance website, compared the 50 states and Washington, D.C., across three categories: prevention and containment, risk factors and infrastructure, and economic impact. Dimensions were measured using 35 metrics, with each metric graded on a 100-point scale.
Five states with the most aggressive measures limiting COVID-19 exposure:
1. Rhode Island
2. Connecticut
3. Maryland
4. New York
5. Washington
Five states with the least aggressive measures limiting COVID-19 exposure:
1. Wyoming
2. Mississippi
3. Texas
4. Nevada
5. Oklahoma
"Some of the key reasons why Rhode Island is the most aggressive state against the coronavirus include the closure of schools, bars and restaurants in the state," WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez said in a news release. "Rhode Island has also restricted travel for state employees and is among the states that administered the most tests for COVID-19 per capita, among other actions."
"Aggressiveness in combating the coronavirus is not all about recent actions, though," Ms. Gonzalez continued. "A lot of it is years in the making. For example, Rhode Island has the infrastructure to handle this type of pandemic in large part because of its relatively high funding for public health programs and its high number of healthcare facilities."