Top 10 Most Aggressive States Against The Coronavirus

In the battle to stop the spread of Covid-19, some states are aggressively combating the contagion with super-powered public policies that are getting results, according to WalletHub, a personal finance website.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) says the remedy for stopping the disease is social distancing of at least six feet or more. Many states have taken the CDC’s advice by banning even small gatherings, closing all non-essential businesses, shutting down schools, an ordering residents to shelter in place. But such a cure can damage local and state economies, so not all states are willing to take such drastic measures to win the war against Covid-19, Other states are, though.

To determine which states are the most aggressive in their efforts to limit exposure to coronavirus, WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: “Prevention & Containment,” “Risk Factors & Infrastructure” and “Economic Impact.” It used 51 metrics graded on a 100-point scale to determine each state’s overall weighted total and ranking.

Here, in ascending order, are the top 10 most aggressive states against the coronavirus.

10. West Virginia

While West Virginia ranks 47^th in influenza and pneumonia death rate per capita, it has leapfrogged 22 places from its 32^nd overall ranking on March 16^th and 21 places from 31^st on March 23^rd, to 10^th on April 6^th.

9. New Hampshire

New Hampshire ranks 34^th in Economic Impact, but ranks 12^th in Risk Factors and Infrastructure, and eighth in Prevention and Containment. New Hampshire’s April 6^th overall ranking of ninth is a drop of five places from fourth on March 23^rd, but is still an improvement over eleventh on March 16^th.

8. Massachusetts

Massachusetts ranks first with the lowest share of population without health-insurance coverage, but fourth in Risk Factors and Infrastructure, 6^th in Economic Impact, and 10^th in Prevention and Containment. The state soars to an April 6^th eighth place ranking overall, up 17 places from its March 23^rd ranking of 25^th, but just short of its sixth place finish on March 16^th.

7. Washington

Washington ranks eleventh in Economic Impact, ninth in Prevention and Containment, and seventh in Risk Factors and Infrastructure. The state advanced to an overall ranking of seventh on April 6^th, up 14 places from its overall rank of 21^st on March 23^rd, but down two places from its fifth place overall ranking of March 16^th.

6.  Rhode Island

Despite a ranking of 47^th in Economic Impact, Rhode Island ranks sixth in Prevention and Containment, and fifth in Risk Factors and Infrastructure. Rhode Island ranked first overall on March 16^th, but fell to second on March 23^rd and sixth on April 6^th.

5. New Jersey

In spite of a 49^th ranking in lowest public hospital system quality and 17^th in both Economic Impact, and Risk Factors and Infrastructure, New Jersey ranks fourth in Prevention and Containment. The state rises two places from its seventh place overall rank on both March 16^th and 23^rd, to a current overall rank of fifth on April 6^th.

4. Hawaii

Although Hawaii ranks 49^th in Economic Impact and 28^th in Risk Factors and Infrastructure, the state ranks first in Prevention and Containment. Hawaii took giant steps from its March 16^thoverall ranking of 45^th, landing at eleventh place on March 23^rd, then rising to its current overall rank of fourth on April 6^th.

3. Alaska

Alaska ranks 50^th with the highest share of population without health insurance coverage, but first with the highest public health-care spending per capita. Alaska rose from an overall rank of 19^th on March 16^th to 14^th on March 23^rd, and to its current overall rank of third on April 6^th.

2. District of Columbia

While the nation’s capital ranks first in highest public health-care spending per capita, it ranks 50^th with the lowest public hospital system quality. After dropping from tenth on March 16^th, to an overall rank of 22^nd on March 23^rd, the District of Columbia bounces back with an April 6^th rank of second.

1. New York

With the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in the country, New York has aggressively battled the disease with every public policy weapon in its arsenal. The state ranks 14^th in Economic Impact, 13^th in Risk Factors and Infrastructure, and third in Prevention and Containment. After dropping three places from an overall ranking of fourth on March 16^th, New York bounces back from seventh on March 23^rd to first on April 6^th.