The U.S. is making considerable progress with the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, and as a result states have been rolling back restrictions on business and gatherings. We still have months to go before we can achieve a full reopening across the U.S., but certain states are removing restrictions faster than others.
Coronavirus Restrictions in Virginia (1=Fewest, 25=Avg.):
- 18th – Requirement to Wear a Face Mask in Public
- 33rd – Workplace Temperature Screening
- 19th – State Guidance on Customer Health Checks at Restaurants
- 38th – Large Gatherings Restrictions
- 27th – Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses
- 29th – Reopening of Restaurants and Bars
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on April 5, 2021.
In order to determine the states with the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 13 key metrics. Their data set ranges from whether restaurants are open 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
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| Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Delta in Overall Rank vs. March 2, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | 95.97 | 0 |
| 2 | Florida | 90.70 | 6 |
| 3 | Wyoming | 90.16 | 21 |
| 4 | South Dakota | 89.15 | 1 |
| 5 | Texas | 88.37 | 28 |
| 6 | Alaska | 87.83 | 0 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 87.02 | -5 |
| 8 | Mississippi | 85.66 | 13 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 85.66 | -5 |
| 10 | Montana | 84.11 | 0 |
| 11 | Idaho | 82.95 | -7 |
| 12 | Missouri | 82.17 | 0 |
| 13 | Arkansas | 81.78 | 0 |
| 14 | Nebraska | 81.01 | 1 |
| 15 | Arizona | 80.85 | 10 |
| 16 | Tennessee | 80.62 | -7 |
| 17 | North Dakota | 80.27 | -6 |
| 18 | Utah | 79.50 | -11 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | 78.92 | -5 |
| 20 | West Virginia | 76.47 | 6 |
| 21 | Alabama | 74.03 | -5 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | 70.16 | 0 |
| 23 | Indiana | 68.53 | -3 |
| 24 | Georgia | 68.22 | -7 |
| 25 | Kansas | 68.06 | -7 |
| 26 | Maryland | 56.43 | 1 |
| 27 | Louisiana | 47.36 | -8 |
| 28 | North Carolina | 47.13 | 17 |
| 29 | Ohio | 46.94 | -6 |
| 30 | Nevada | 46.43 | -1 |
| 31 | Kentucky | 45.97 | -3 |
| 32 | Colorado | 44.96 | 11 |
| 33 | New Mexico | 41.32 | 11 |
| 34 | Illinois | 40.19 | -4 |
| 35 | Oregon | 39.77 | 0 |
| 36 | Pennsylvania | 39.46 | -4 |
| 37 | Hawaii | 37.29 | 11 |
| 38 | Massachusetts | 36.28 | 8 |
| 39 | Michigan | 35.89 | -8 |
| 40 | Minnesota | 35.74 | -6 |
| 41 | New Jersey | 35.00 | -5 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | 33.02 | -4 |
| 43 | Connecticut | 32.02 | -2 |
| 43 | Maine | 32.02 | -3 |
| 45 | California | 31.86 | 2 |
| 46 | New York | 31.24 | -7 |
| 46 | Washington | 31.24 | -4 |
| 48 | Virginia | 28.92 | 3 |
| 49 | Delaware | 28.57 | -12 |
| 50 | District of Columbia | 20.00 | -1 |
| 51 | Vermont | 18.84 | -1 |
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on Monday, April 5, 2021.
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Overtime Changes to State Social Distancing Measures
| State | Overall Rank, as of April 6, 2021 | Overall Rank, as of March 2, 2021 | Overall Rank, as of January 26, 2021 | Overall Rank, as of October 6, 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Florida | 2 | 8 | 5 | 11 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 24 | 16 | 7 |
| South Dakota | 4 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Texas | 5 | 33 | 28 | 35 |
| Alaska | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| South Carolina | 7 | 2 | 10 | 19 |
| Mississippi | 8 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
| Oklahoma | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Montana | 10 | 10 | 13 | 28 |
| Idaho | 11 | 4 | 14 | 2 |
| Missouri | 12 | 12 | 7 | 8 |
| Arkansas | 13 | 13 | 4 | 10 |
| Nebraska | 14 | 15 | 17 | 21 |
| Arizona | 15 | 25 | 30 | 45 |
| Tennessee | 16 | 9 | 19 | 18 |
| North Dakota | 17 | 11 | 14 | 9 |
| Utah | 18 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| Wisconsin | 19 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| West Virginia | 20 | 26 | 25 | 27 |
| Alabama | 21 | 16 | 12 | 14 |
| New Hampshire | 22 | 22 | 23 | 26 |
| Indiana | 23 | 20 | 20 | 15 |
| Georgia | 24 | 17 | 18 | 13 |
| Kansas | 25 | 18 | 11 | 17 |
| Maryland | 26 | 27 | 24 | 24 |
| Louisiana | 27 | 19 | 22 | 25 |
| North Carolina | 28 | 45 | 44 | 33 |
| Ohio | 29 | 23 | 31 | 16 |
| Nevada | 30 | 29 | 27 | 20 |
| Kentucky | 31 | 28 | 26 | 37 |
| Colorado | 32 | 43 | 38 | 46 |
| New Mexico | 33 | 44 | 47 | 34 |
| Illinois | 34 | 30 | 42 | 23 |
| Oregon | 35 | 35 | 37 | 44 |
| Pennsylvania | 36 | 32 | 35 | 42 |
| Hawaii | 37 | 48 | 43 | 51 |
| Massachusetts | 38 | 46 | 49 | 49 |
| Michigan | 39 | 31 | 29 | 30 |
| Minnesota | 40 | 34 | 32 | 32 |
| New Jersey | 41 | 36 | 34 | 47 |
| Rhode Island | 42 | 38 | 36 | 29 |
| Connecticut | 43 | 41 | 41 | 39 |
| Maine | 43 | 40 | 40 | 48 |
| California | 45 | 47 | 51 | 50 |
| New York | 46 | 39 | 39 | 38 |
| Washington | 46 | 42 | 46 | 36 |
| Virginia | 48 | 51 | 50 | 40 |
| Delaware | 49 | 37 | 33 | 31 |
| District of Columbia | 50 | 49 | 48 | 43 |
| Vermont | 51 | 50 | 45 | 41 |
Note: As the situation with the coronavirus pandemic has evolved, we have updated the methodology of this report to reflect the actions easing social distancing measures the most at the time of publication.
COVID-19 Death Rate vs Restrictions
| State | Fewest Restrictions Ranking | COVID19 Death Rate Ranking | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | 24 | 45 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| AL | 21 | 43 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| KS | 25 | 31 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| AZ | 15 | 25 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| OH | 29 | 17 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| RI | 42 | 39 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| DE | 49 | 41 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| SC | 7 | 28 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| CA | 45 | 40 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| MA | 38 | 47 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| NV | 30 | 29 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| FL | 2 | 44 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| NM | 33 | 26 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| MS | 8 | 30 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| NC | 28 | 20 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| NJ | 41 | 48 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| MO | 12 | 19 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| PA | 36 | 33 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| OK | 8 | 6 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| NY | 46 | 49 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| AR | 13 | 36 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| IA | 1 | 50 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| CT | 43 | 23 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| IN | 23 | 16 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| TX | 5 | 42 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| TN | 16 | 24 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| KY | 31 | 37 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| LA | 27 | 34 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| MD | 26 | 35 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| DC | 50 | 38 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| WV | 20 | 51 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| WY | 3 | 13 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| NH | 22 | 14 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| IL | 34 | 21 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| OR | 35 | 5 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| MI | 39 | 22 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| WA | 46 | 12 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| SD | 4 | 7 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| NE | 14 | 3 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| MT | 10 | 46 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| WI | 19 | 27 | Few restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| VA | 48 | 32 | Many restrictions & High COVID19 Death Rate |
| ID | 11 | 10 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| CO | 32 | 8 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| UT | 18 | 18 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| MN | 40 | 15 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| AK | 6 | 1 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| ME | 43 | 9 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| VT | 51 | 11 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| ND | 17 | 1 | Few restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
| HI | 37 | 4 | Many restrictions & Low COVID19 Death Rate |
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
| State | Fewest Restrictions Ranking | Unemployment Ranking | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE | 49 | 32 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| NE | 14 | 4 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| VT | 51 | 1 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| WY | 3 | 31 | Few restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| SD | 4 | 3 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| IA | 1 | 9 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| UT | 18 | 5 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| KS | 25 | 9 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| AL | 21 | 6 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| NH | 22 | 1 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| AR | 13 | 22 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| IN | 23 | 12 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| ND | 17 | 22 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| ID | 11 | 7 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| MT | 10 | 14 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| MN | 40 | 9 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| SC | 7 | 21 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| ME | 43 | 25 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| VA | 48 | 24 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| OH | 29 | 25 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| OK | 8 | 19 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| WI | 19 | 13 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| GA | 24 | 7 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| KY | 31 | 16 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| FL | 2 | 16 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| MO | 12 | 16 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| MS | 8 | 28 | Few restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| AK | 6 | 37 | Few restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| MD | 26 | 28 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| NC | 28 | 25 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| OR | 35 | 32 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| WV | 20 | 35 | Few restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| TN | 16 | 14 | Few restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| PA | 36 | 44 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| LA | 27 | 37 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| MA | 38 | 39 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| TX | 5 | 40 | Few restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| WA | 46 | 30 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| AZ | 15 | 36 | Few restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| MI | 39 | 19 | Many restrictions & Low Unemployment Rate |
| NJ | 41 | 44 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| CT | 43 | 49 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| IL | 34 | 42 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| DC | 50 | 41 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| NM | 33 | 47 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| RI | 42 | 43 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| NY | 46 | 51 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| CO | 32 | 34 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| CA | 45 | 48 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| HI | 37 | 49 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |
| NV | 30 | 44 | Many restrictions & High Unemployment Rate |