Updated: Safest States to Be in During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The Delta variant has now become the dominant strain in the US according to the CDC. The variant, B.1.617.2, which was first identified in India in December, is more transmissible, though it is still unknown if it can cause more severe disease that leads to a higher rate of hospitalizations and death. The US has made tremendous progress in the fight against COVID-19. As of July 1, 54.6% of the U.S. population had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The emergence and spread of variants also have the potential to chip away at our nation’s progress to end this pandemic, according to the CDC.

With around 48% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of July 7, and vaccination being an essential component for a full reopening of the economy, WalletHub today released updated rankings for the Safest States During COVID-19.

In order to find out the safest states during the COVID-19 pandemic, they compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. Their data set includes the rates of COVID-19 transmission, positive testing, hospitalizations and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting vaccinated.

WalletHub Q&A

How will safer conditions for vacationers this summer impact the economy?

“Safer conditions for vacationers this summer should have a very positive impact on the economy. Consumer confidence is up due to the vaccine, and over two-thirds of Americans plan to travel this summer. The 4th of July weekend demonstrated people's willingness to take a trip, as air travel rose to levels higher than before the pandemic, and road travel was at an all-time high,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “This summer, tourist attractions, entertainment venues, retail stores, restaurants and accommodation providers should see a large boost in revenue. Travel providers, like airlines, bus companies and cruise lines, should also have significant gains compared to last year. More money being spent on vacations leads to businesses hiring more employees, who will then put their earnings back into the economy.”

How might the Delta COVID-19 variant impact safety?

“The Delta COVID-19 variant could have a negative impact on our safety, both from a public health perspective and financially. Studies show that fully-vaccinated people are protected against the Delta variant, too, but if a large portion of the country remains unvaccinated, the more contagious nature of the Delta variant could trigger more local lockdowns,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Americans are just starting to recover financially, and further lockdowns could put them in serious financial jeopardy. It’s essential that as many people as possible get vaccinated.”

What does it mean for safety that the EEOC has confirmed employers can require vaccination in the workplace?

“The fact that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has confirmed employers can require vaccination in the workplace means that we should see even higher safety levels in the near future. Companies that require vaccination will help push more people to get protected, which will make daily COVID-19 cases and deaths drop even lower,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Some places, such as Houston Methodist Hospital, are already advertising that they mandate vaccination for all employees. Those companies view having a vaccination requirement as a competitive advantage, since consumers are more likely to visit places that make them feel safer.”

Is New Mexico, the state with the lowest death rate, one of the states that is vaccinating most?

“In addition to reporting no deaths in the past week, New Mexico ranks as the sixth highest when it comes to the share of the population age 12 and over who have received at least one dose of the vaccine,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Increasing the number of people vaccinated is essential for getting control of the pandemic.”

To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:

https://wallethub.com/edu/safest-states-during-covid/86567

Courtesy: WalletHub