WalletHub recently updated its study on the “States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions” and South Carolina ranked as having the 2nd fewest. In the last report, the Palmetto State had the 10th fewest restrictions.
To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 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. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.
Coronavirus Restrictions in South Carolina (1=Fewest, 25=Avg.):
- 1st – Requirement to Wear a Face Mask in Public
- 23rd – Workplace Temperature Screening
- 1st – State Guidance on Customer Health Checks at Restaurants
- 1st – Travel Restrictions
- 1st – Large Gatherings Restrictions
- 1st – Strictness of “Shelter in Place” Order
- 1st – Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses
- 1st – Reopening of Restaurants and Bars
- 1st – Working from Home Requirements/Recommendations
Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on March 1, 2021.
You can see the full report here.
Q&A with WalletHub
Should there be any vaccine-related COVID-19 restrictions?
“America should implement vaccine-related COVID-19 restrictions. The U.S. could follow the model of Israel, which has instituted a ‘Green Pass' system. The ‘Green Pass' allows people who have received both doses of the vaccine, as well as people who have already recovered from COVID-19, to visit certain institutions like gyms, hotels and entertainment venues that are closed to the general public, ” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Having a ‘Green Pass' in the U.S. would not only help to keep people safe, but it would also encourage more people to get vaccinated and it would help struggling industries open sooner. ”
Is there a correlation between how restrictive a state is and its unemployment rate?
“There is a moderate correlation between a state's restrictiveness and its unemployment rate,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “WalletHub’s analysis found that 80% of states with few COVID-19 restrictions had low unemployment rates. This makes sense because states with fewer restrictions allow more places to open, which in turn provides more opportunities to work.”
Should states strictly enforce their COVID-19 restrictions?
“States should strictly enforce their COVID-19 restrictions because otherwise there is no incentive for people to follow the rules. If there are no consequences for disobeying a state’s mask mandate, for example, people will be more likely to try to enter crowded areas without masks, which in turn will contribute to the spread of the virus,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Fines are a good deterrent to make sure Americans follow COVID-19 restrictions, and enforcement will also minimize the need for citizens to play the police.”
Why does Iowa rank as the state with the fewest coronavirus restrictions?
“Iowa ranks as the state with the fewest coronavirus restrictions in part because it is one of 15 states that have not taken any action on face coverings in public, and one of 21 states that have no limits on large gatherings,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Iowa has reopened all non-essential businesses, and it is one of only 14 states that neither require nor recommend working from home.”
California has experienced the most coronavirus cases overall in the U.S. How has that impacted the state's restrictions?
“California has the 5th most coronavirus restrictions in the U.S., and is one of only two states to ban all gatherings currently,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Non-essential businesses in California are open with limits and the state is one of only a few with a statewide order for partial school closures.”
