Washington ranks high in US for coronavirus containment policies. Here’s why
Washington leads the nation in testing, travel restrictions, sick leave policies and six other types of quick responses to the coronavirus outbreak, a new study released Tuesday found.
WalletHub, a consumer-focused personal finance website, used three broad categories of responses to create the rankings. It compiled the data primarily from government-backed sources and examined 35 different areas.
Overall, Washington was ranked as having the fifth most aggressive measures aimed at limiting exposure to the coronavirus.
“So far, it has administered the most tests per capita, and has one of the biggest epidemiology workforces in the country. The state also has the highest share of workers with access to paid sick leave at 91 percent,” said Jill Gonzalez, an analyst at WalletHub.
As of Monday afternoon, the state had 904 reported cases and 48 deaths, up from Sunday’s 769 cases and 42 deaths. Nine new cases were reported Monday in Pierce County, for a total of 38 cases.
Though the state did well in most areas, some of its rankings were near the bottom. It placed 42nd in share of homes lacking access to basic with hygienic facilities, defined as those with inadequate plumbing, inadequate kitchen facilities or that are severely overcrowded.
The state ranked 49th in hospital beds per capita. It finished 38th in total public health emergency preparedness funding per capita and 43rd in emergency services per capita.
But Washington topped the nation in several categories:
▪ Number of tested cases per capita
▪ Share of workers with paid sick leave
▪ States that have restricted travel
▪ States that have banned large gatherings
▪ Statewide school closings
▪ Closing restaurants and bars
▪ Activating the National Guard
▪ Legislative response
▪ Access to communication infrastructure
Rhode Island topped the overall rankings, partly because it’s been preparing for crises such as this for some time.
“Aggressiveness in combating the coronavirus is not all about recent actions, though,” Gonzalez said. “A lot of it is years in the making. For example, Rhode Island has the infrastructure to handle this type of pandemic in large part because of its relatively high funding for public health programs and its high number of healthcare facilities.”
Next on the list were Connecticut, Maryland and New York, followed by Washington and then Massachusetts.
At the bottom of the rankings was Wyoming.
“Wyoming has taken few drastic measures at the state level in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. It has administered relatively few COVID-19 tests per capita, for example. It has not closed schools, bars or restaurants, either,” Gonzalez said.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 11:44 AM.
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