NC’s COVID-19 response among most restrictive in nation

North Carolina over-all has some of the most restrictive COVID-19 prevention measures in the nation, according to a WalletHub study released on Jan. 26.

With the U.S. starting to open up more but a full reopening only possible once the nation achieves widespread vaccination, the personal-finance website WalletHub released updated rankings for the States with the Fewest Coronavirus Restrictions.

To identify which states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 14 key metrics. Our data set ranges from whether restaurants are open to whether the state has required face masks in public and workplace temperature screenings.

Here’s how North Carolina measured up:

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

• 18^th – State Guidance on Customer Health Checks at Restaurants
• 26^th – Large Gatherings Restrictions
• 48^th – Strictness of “Shelter in Place” Order
• 34^th – Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses
• 22^nd – Reopening of Restaurants and Bars

Note: Rankings are based on data available as of 12:30 p.m. ET on January 25, 2021.

Here’s how all the states measured up:

States with the Fewest COVID-19 Restrictions

Overall Rank	State	Total Score	Delta in Overall Rank vs. Oct. 6, 2020
1	Oklahoma	84.69	3
2	South Dakota	81.63	-1
3	Iowa	76.05	2
4	Arkansas	75.85	6
5	Florida	75.51	6
6	Utah	75.20	-3
7	Missouri	73.47	1
8	Wisconsin	72.65	-2
9	Alaska	72.31	3
10	South Carolina	71.60	9
11	Kansas	67.21	6
12	Alabama	66.33	2
13	Montana	65.99	15
14	Idaho	65.68	-12
14	North Dakota	65.68	-5
16	Wyoming	65.37	-9
17	Nebraska	64.80	4
18	Georgia	62.04	-5
19	Tennessee	59.05	-1
20	Indiana	57.42	-5
21	Mississippi	57.35	1
22	Louisiana	56.80	3
23	New Hampshire	51.36	3
24	Maryland	50.88	0
25	West Virginia	47.72	2
26	Kentucky	45.78	11
27	Nevada	44.97	-7
28	Texas	43.06	7
29	Michigan	42.55	1
30	Arizona	42.04	15
31	Ohio	40.51	-15
32	Minnesota	39.86	0
33	Delaware	39.35	-2
34	New Jersey	39.01	13
35	Pennsylvania	37.62	7
36	Rhode Island	36.05	-7
37	Oregon	35.58	7
38	Colorado	33.88	8
39	New York	33.67	-1
40	Maine	33.54	8
41	Connecticut	32.52	-2
42	Illinois	31.74	-19
43	Hawaii	28.64	8
44	North Carolina	26.26	-11
45	Vermont	26.05	-4
46	Washington	24.83	-10
47	New Mexico	23.50	-13
48	District of Columbia	21.63	-5
49	Massachusetts	21.09	0
50	Virginia	18.57	-10
51	California	16.67	-1

Although North Carolina is the 9th largest state by population, its COVID-19 death toll ranks 30th in the nation. Recent surges following Election Day, Thanksgiving Break, and Christmas Break led to more restrictive measures being reinstated in the state.

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.

North Carolina similarly ranks 31st in the nation for unemployment.

Unemployment Ranking vs Restrictions Ranking