Survey: Florida has second fewest COVID-19 restrictions

by | Apr 6, 2021



Florida now boasts the 2nd fewest coronavirus restrictions in the U.S., according to an analysis by WalletHub.

With much of the country starting to reopen thanks to nearly 19 percent of the U.S. population receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, the personal-finance website on Tuesday released its updated rankings for the states with the fewest coronavirus restrictions. In the new report, the Sunshine State ranked 2nd — up 6 spots from the last report.

Source: WalletHub

 

In order to determine the states with the fewest coronavirus restrictions, researchers compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 key metrics, including requirements to wear a face mask, guidelines on travel, and the reopening of restaurants and bars. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the fewest restrictions. All metrics were used to calculate an overall score for each state.

Compared to others in the study, Florida set the bar high for states not allowing the pandemic to dictate the day-to-day activities of its citizens. WalletHub found that Florida ranked 1st in the nation in several categories, including reopening restaurants and bars, reopening “non-essential” businesses, loosening travel restrictions, and not requiring shelter-in-place orders. Florida’s total score in the report was 90.70.

“Florida is the state with the second-fewest COVID-19 restrictions. The state doesn’t require public face coverings, has no traveler quarantine in place, and no ban on public gatherings” said WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “Schools have reopened, as have restaurants, bars and non-essential businesses with no requirements for customer health checks. Florida has almost fully reopened and also doesn’t require workplace temperature screenings and has no shelter in place order.”

A full rundown of how Florida ranked in each metic can be seen below:

Coronavirus Restrictions in Florida (1=Fewest, 25=Avg.):

  • 1st – Requirement to Wear a Face Mask in Public
  • 1st – 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
  • 14th – Working from Home Requirements/Recommendations

 

The only state to beat out Florida was Iowa, while states with the most restrictions were New York and Washington (46); Virginia (47); Delaware (49); D.C. (50); and Vermont (51).

To view the full study, click here.

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