Which states are safest in today’s continuing COVID pandemic?

With around 49% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of July 21, and vaccination being essential for getting the economy back on track, WalletHub today released updated rankings for the Safest States During COVID-19, along with accompanying videos and audio files.

In order to find out the safest states during the COVID-19 pandemic, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across five key metrics. Our 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. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.

Safest	Least Safe
1. Vermont	42. Alabama
2. Connecticut	43. Florida
3. Rhode Island	44. Wyoming
4. New Hampshire	45. Montana
5. Hawaii	46. Mississippi
6. Massachusetts	47. Oklahoma
7. New York	48. Nevada
8. Washington	49. Missouri
9. South Dakota	50. Arkansas
10. Minnesota	51. Louisiana

Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 21, 2021.

To view the full report and your state’s rank, Click Here.

WalletHub Q&A

What impact do unvaccinated people have on the economy?

“Our economic recovery will not reach its full potential until the vast majority of people who are medically able to get vaccinated do so. The more people who decline to get vaccinated, the more risk there is to public health, especially as the new delta COVID-19 variant spreads. The safety level of the country impacts the economy because it is tied to the lifting of restrictions and it determines how confident people are to go out and spend money,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “While we have made a lot of progress with vaccination, recent polls have found that most people who are still unvaccinated do not plan to ever get the vaccine. Investing in campaigns to convince more people to get vaccinated may lead to bigger economic returns down the line.”

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.”

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

“Despite reporting no deaths in the past week, Alaska ranks as the 21^st lowest 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.”

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.

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