Which State Managed COVID-19 Best

The Lancet recently published results from an analysis that assessed COVID-19 pandemic policies and behaviors in the U.S.

These researchers revealed where a person lived indicated COVID-19 risk.

Published on March 23, 2023, this analysis found nearly four-fold differences that existed across states in COVID-19 death rates, even when standardized for factors such as age and comorbidities, suggesting that lower death rates were achievable.

The states with the lowest standardized COVID-19 death rates were Hawaii, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Maryland, which are not confined to a single geographical region.

And the states and territories with the highest standardized cumulative death rates were Arizona (581 per 100 000 [509–672]), Washington, DC, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Colorado.

In summary, these researchers stated that the policy mandates and protective behaviors adopted during this pandemic effectively reduced SARS-CoV-2 infections.