Updated: Safest States During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As of May 5, 32 percent of the total U.S. population, or more than 107 million people, had been fully vaccinated, and about 45 percent of the population had received at least one dose But daily vaccine rates are dropping and some states are returning vaccines.

Scientists and health experts that it is doubtful we will reach herd immunity at least not currently and may never attain it. Polls show that about 30 percent of the U.S. population is still reluctant to be vaccinated.

With around 35% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of May 12, and vaccination being an essential component for 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.

Highlights

Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.

WalletHub Q&A

What will be the impact on safety in the U.S. due to the expansion of the Pfizer shot to children as young as 12?

“The safety level in the U.S. will increase now that the Pfizer vaccine will be available to children as young as 12. Millions more people will now have the opportunity to get protected, which will boost our changes of reaching herd immunity,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Vaccinating children in this age group will help reduce the chances of coronavirus spreading in middle schools this fall, and it will be especially helpful for children who live with family members who are elderly or immunocompromised.”

How will warmer weather affect people's safety in relation to COVID-19?

“Warmer weather should have a positive impact on safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, as restaurants and events will offer socially-distanced outside seating, which is safer than gathering inside. Businesses and events can expand their capacity limits without compromising safety as a result,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “We should expect warmer weather, combined with accelerated vaccine distribution, to quicken the pace of reopening.”

What actions can residents take in order to increase the safety of their community and their state?

“The most important thing that residents can do to increase the safety of their community and state is to get vaccinated. While the vaccines being offered have a high efficacy, how well they are able to curb the pandemic also depends on the share of the population that chooses to get vaccinated,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Until we achieve widespread vaccination and get the pandemic under control, people should continue to wear masks in public and practice social distancing to achieve the highest level of safety possible.”

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

“Despite having the lowest death rate in the nation in the past week, at around one per million, Mississippi ranks as the lowest when it comes to the share of the population age 16 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