MA is 6th Most Aggressive State in Fighting Coronavirus, According to Report

Thursday, March 19, 2020

GoLocalWorcester News Team

MA is 6th most aggressive state when it comes to fighting coronavirus.

Massachusetts is one of the most aggressive states in the U.S. when it comes to fighting the coronavirus.

According to a recent study completed by WalletHub, Massachusetts is the sixth most aggressive state in the U.S. when it comes to fighting the coronavirus.

“According to the World Health Organization, the primary way that coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads is through close interaction with other people. If people come into contact with droplets exhaled or coughed out by infected people, they are at risk of getting the virus,” said WalletHub.

The report comes as there are more than 218 cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts.

"Many states have taken the CDC’s advice and have legally enforced social distancing, to the point of banning large gatherings and mandating that restaurants and bars close in some cases. Other states have focused on laws ensuring greater funding for combating the pandemic or guaranteeing that treatment is covered by insurance," adds WalletHub.

Aggressiveness Against the Coronavirus in Massachusetts:

22nd Best – Tested Cases of COVID-19 per Capita
13th Best – Share of Employment from Small Businesses
6th Best – Share of Workers with Access to Paid Sick Leave
30th Best – Total Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Funding Per Capita
10th Best – Public Healthcare Spending per Capita

The Rankings

The top five states are as follows:

1. Rhode Island

2. Connecticut

3. Maryland

4. New York

5. Washington

6. Massachusetts

Wyoming is ranked as the least aggressive when fighting coronavirus.

See the full rankings in the map below:

Source: WalletHub

The Method

In order to identify the states that have taken the most aggressive measures in limiting virus exposure, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions, “Prevention & Containment,” “Risk Factors & Infrastructure” and “Economic Impact.”

WalletHub evaluated those dimensions using 35 relevant metrics. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest value.

WalletHub then determined each state and the District’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its rankings.

Prevention & Containment – Total Points: 60

State and Local Public Health Laboratories per Capita: Half Weight (~1.15 Points)
Tested Cases of COVID-19 per Capita: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)
Share of Confirmed Over Tested Cases of COVID-19: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)
Deaths Due to COVID-19 per Capita: Triple Weight (~6.92 Points)
Epidemiology Workforce per Capita: Half Weight (~1.15 Points)
Total Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Funding Per Capita: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
Emergency Centers and Services per Capita: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)
Share of Workers with Access to Paid Sick Leave: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
States Who Have Restricted Travel: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)
States Who Banned Large Gatherings to Slow Coronavirus Spread: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)
States Who Announced Statewide School Closures: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)
States Who Have Activated National Guard in Response to Coronavirus Pandemic: Double Weight (~4.62 Points)
States Who Have Closed Restaurants and Bars to Minimize Coronavirus Spread: Triple Weight (~6.92 Points)
States Who Are Recommending Statewide Curfew to Minimize Coronavirus Spread: Triple Weight (~6.92 Points)
States Legislation Responding to COVID-19: Full Weight (~2.31 Points)

Risk Factors & Infrastructure – Total Points: 20

Influenza and Pneumonia Death Rate: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
Infectious Disease Incidence Rate: Full Weight (~0.93 Points)
Poverty Rate: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
Population Density: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
Life Expectancy: Half Weight (~0.47 Points)
Share of Uninsured Population: Full Weight (~0.93 Points)
Hospital Beds per Capita: Full Weight (~0.93 Points)
Public Hospital System Quality: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
Access to Communication Infrastructure: Full Weight (~0.93 Points)
Share of Homes Lacking Access to Basic Hygienic Facilities: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
Food Insecurity Rate: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
Public Healthcare Spending per Capita: Full Weight (~0.93 Points)
At Risk Population – Share of Elderly Population: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)
At Risk Population – Chronically Ill: Double Weight (~1.86 Points)

Economic Impact – Total Points: 20

Accommodation & Food Services; Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation; and Public Transportation Output as Share of Total State GDP: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)
Share of Workforce in Accommodation & Food Services; Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation; Bus Service & Urban Transit; Air Transportation; Taxi Service: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)
Part-time to Full-time Employment Workforce Ratio: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Share of Wage and Salary Workers Paid at Hourly Rates: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Share of Employment from Small Businesses: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
States Who Have Enacted Budget Legislation in Response to COVID-19: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)