Best Cities for Families in Hawaii

While all states have at least partially reopened non-essential businesses that were closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. is still far from a full reopening. Many states have put a temporary pause on moving to the next stage of reopening, or have even reversed course and closed certain businesses again due to surges in the disease. In order to determine the states with the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 17 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether restaurants are opened to whether the state has required face masks in public and workplace temperature screenings. Read on for the state ranking, additional insight from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.

Main Findings

States with the Fewest COVID-19 Restrictions

Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, October 5, 2020.

COVID-19 Death Rate vs Restrictions

Note: Rank 1 on the “COVID19 Death Rate Ranking” means fewest deaths and Rank 1 on “Fewest Restrictions Ranking” means the fewest restrictions in place.

Unemployment Ranking vs Restrictions Ranking

Note: Rank 1 on the “Unemployment Ranking” means lowest unemployment rate and Rank 1 on “Fewest Restrictions Ranking” means the fewest restrictions in place.

Ask the Experts

When deciding on how to manage restrictions, including when to lift them, states must consider the health of their citizens first and foremost. For more insight on this topic, WalletHub turned to a panel of experts. Click on the experts below to read their bios and responses to the following key questions:

1. What are the top measures that can be taken in order to safely open the economy and prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections?
2. What would be the consequences of opening the economy too early?
3. What are the best ways to protect the population most at risk while resuming economic activity?
4. What can individuals do to safely begin to get back to normal?

Ask the Experts

Natalie Simpson
Chair, Associate Professor, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
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Kelsey Hample
Ph.D. – Professor, Economics Department, Furman University
Read More

Teresa M. Waters
Ph.D. – Endowed Professor and Chair, Associate Dean for Research, University of Kentucky
Read More

Vivian Ho
Ph.D. – James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics and Professor of Economics, Rice University
Read More

Govind Persad
JD, Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Read More

Andrew Spieldenner
Ph.D. – Assistant Professor, Health Communication, Communication Department, California State University, San Marcos
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

In order to identify the states that have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 17 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the fewest restrictions.

We then determined the weighted average across all metrics to calculate an overall score for each state and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

• Requirement to Wear a Face Mask in Public: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of state action requiring residents to wear a face mask in public.
  • 1 - No state action on public face coverings;
  • 0.5 - State requires the use of face coverings for certain employees;
  • 0.25 - State allows local officials to require the use of public face coverings for the general public;
  • 0 - Face coverings required for the general public.

• Travel Restrictions: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of state domestic travel limitations.
  • 1 - No Action on Traveler Quarantine;
  • 0.5 - Some Traveler Quarantine Restrictions;
  • 0 - Traveler Quarantine Mandate in Place.

• Large Gatherings Restrictions: Triple Weight (~10.71 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of policies that have banned large gatherings in a state.
  • 1 - States that do not have bans on large gatherings;
  • 0.5 - Restrictions on gatherings, but allow more than 25 people;
  • 0.2 - Allow gatherings between 10 and 25 people;
  • 0.1 - Allow gatherings of 10 or less people;
  • 0 - All Gatherings Prohibited.

• Statewide School Restart: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the status of public schools reopening.
  • 1 - State-ordered in-person instruction part-time or full-time;
  • 0.5 - Varies by school/district;
  • 0.25 - State-ordered regional closure in effect;
  • 0 - State-ordered full closure in effect.

• Reopening of Restaurants and Bars: Quadruple Weight (~14.29 Points)
  Note: This composite metric measures whether a state has imposed mandatory closings of restaurants and bars to the public.
  Restaurants Limitations:
  • 1 – Restaurants are fully opened;
  • 0.5 – Restaurants are open with service limits;
  • 0 – Closed except for takeout/delivery.

  Bars Limitations:

  • 1 – Bars are open;
  • 0.5 – Bars are open with service limits;
  • 0 – Closed.

• State Guidance on Customer Health Checks at Restaurants: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to whether states have issued guidance on customer health checks at restaurants.
  • 1- No requirement or recommendation for customer health checks at restaurants;
  • 0 - Some form of requirement or recommendation for customer health checks at restaurants.

• Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
  Note: This metric measures whether a state has imposed mandatory closings of non-essential businesses to the public.
  • 1 - States in which Non-Essential Businesses are Fully Opened;
  • 0.50 - Certain Non-Essential Businesses are Opened;
  • 0 - All Non-Essential Businesses Closed.

• Legislation on Business Immunity from COVID-19 Claims: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of state action regarding legislation for ensuring businesses immunity against liability for any harm caused by COVID-19.
  • 1 – State enacted legislation granting businesses immunity;
  • 0 – State hasn’t passed laws giving business immunity.

• Working from Home Requirements/Recommendations: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
  Note: This binary metric refers to whether states have required or recommended working from home.
  • 1 – State doesn’t require/recommend working from home;
  • 0 – State requires/recommends working from home.

• Workplace Temperature Screening: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
  Note: This metric measures whether a state has required or recommended workplace temperature screening.
  • 1- Workplace temperature screening is not required;
  • 0.75 - Workplace temperature screening is recommended for specified employers;
  • 0.5 - Workplace temperature screening is recommended;
  • 0.25 - Workplace temperature screening is required for specified employers;
  • 0 – Workplace temperature screening is required.

• Strictness of “Shelter in Place” Order: Triple Weight (~10.71 Points)
  Note: This metric measures whether a state has imposed mandatory quarantine policies.
  • 1 - States with no “Shelter in place” orders;
  • 0.7 - Only high-risk groups restrictions;
  • 0.5 – Limited statewide quarantine (religious exemptions and/or beaches or state parks are open;
  • 0 - Statewide mandatory quarantine.

• Enforcement or Penalties for COVID-19 Legislation Non-Compliance: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of state action regarding enforcement or penalties sanctioning COVID-19 legislation non-compliance.
  • 1 – State has no penalties or enforcement against COVID-19 legislation non-compliance mentioned;
  • 0 – State has penalties or enforcement against COVID-19 legislation non-compliance.
• Presence of Mandated Contact Tracing Program: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of state action regarding mandatory COVID-19 contact tracing program.
  • 1 – Mandated contact tracing program not present or no actions mentioned;
  • 0 – Contact tracing program mandatory.

• Presence of Multistate Agreements to Reopen: Full Weight (~3.57 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the participation in Multistate Agreement or Regional Partnership by state.
  • 1 – State is part of Multistate Agreement or Regional Partnership;
  • 0 – State is not part of Multistate Agreement or Regional Partnership.

• State Court Closure or Suspension: Double Weight (~7.14 Points)
  Note: This metric measures whether a state has suspended or postponed state court proceedings:
  • 1 – No change to court schedules on state or local level;
  • 0.5 – Suspended in-person proceedings on the local level;
  • 0 – Suspended in-person proceedings statewide.

• Guidance on Elective Medical Procedures: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to whether states have issued guidance for hospitals and other medical facilities to reschedule nonessential surgeries to ease the demand for medical supplies during the coronavirus crisis, or previously had such guidance but lifted it.
  • 1 - State has not issued guidance on elective procedures;
  • 0 - State has issued guidance on elective procedures.

• Guidance for Assisted Living Facilities Related to COVID-19: Half Weight (~1.79 Points)
  Note: This composite metric refers to whether states have issued guidance for assisted living facilities related to COVID-19.
  Visitation:
  • 1 – No guidance for visitation of assisted living facilities related to COVID-19;
  • 0.6 – Recommend visitation restriction of assisted living facilities due to COVID-19;
  • 0.3 – Recommend visitation ban of assisted living facilities due to COVID-19;
  • 0 – Prohibit visitation of assisted living facilities due to COVID-19.

  Staff screening:

  • 1 – No guidance on staff screening of assisted living facilities related to COVID-19;
  • 0.5 – Recommend staff screening of assisted living facilities due to COVID-19;
  • 0 – Require staff screening of assisted living facilities due to COVID-19.

  PPE (personal protective equipment):

  • 1 – No guidance on PPE (personal protective equipment) of assisted living facilities personnel related to COVID-19;
  • 0.5 – Recommend PPE (personal protective equipment) of assisted living facilities personnel due to COVID-19;
  • 0 – Require PPE (personal protective equipment) of assisted living facilities personnel due to COVID-19.

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected from the Kaiser Family Foundation, Ballotpedia, McGuireWoods, Editorial Projects in Education, the COVID Tracking Project, National Restaurant Association, Littler Mendelson, Portfolio Media, The National Academy for State Health Policy, Ogletree Deakins and news reports.

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