JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — As the U.S. continues its efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic amid a surge in cases caused by variant strains, staying safe is one of Americans’ top concerns. Safety is also essential for getting the economy back on track, as the lower COVID-19 transmission and deaths are in a state, the fewer restrictions there will be and the more confidence people will have to shop in person.
While almost all states have fully reopened, some suggest we’ll only be able to completely get back to life as normal once most of the population is fully vaccinated against coronavirus. The good news is that the U.S. is picking up speed with vaccination, as around 57% of the population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of October 12.
Some states are already safer than others, though, based on how well they have kept the pandemic under control and how much they are vaccinating. 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. 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.
Only West Virginia is less vaccinated than Wyoming. The Cowboy State also has the highest death rate and 3rd highest hospitalization rate.
Wyoming’s Safety During Coronavirus (1=Best; 25=Avg.):
- 49th – Vaccination Rate
- 35th – Positive Testing Rate
- 49th – Hospitalization Rate
- 49th – Death Rate
- 35th – Transmission Rate
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30pm ET on Wednesday, October 13, 2021.
