Fewer Restrictions
It’s hard to imagine how we in Iowa compare with other states regarding coronavirus restrictions when, almost by definition, we’re not able to travel.
So let’s get a sense from the personal finance website Wallet Hub, which has released another one of their surveys of all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. They claim Iowa is the state with the 3rd fewest coronavirus restrictions, based on their assessment of 14 key metrics…ranging from whether restaurants are open to whether the state has required face masks in public. Here are some details:
We are first in the country in terms of less restrictions in no fewer than half of their categories. We have the fewest restrictions and regulations on workplace temperature screening…travel restrictions…restrictions on large gatherings…and strictness of “shelter in place” orders. We also have the smallest amount of state guidance on customer health checks at restaurants—apparently some places are requiring some sort of screening before you can even come inside. We also have the fewest restrictions on reopening of non-essential businesses, and on reopening of restaurants and bars; again, all when compared with other states.
We are 12th in the country in terms of fewest restrictions on wearing a face mask in public…and 14th in fewest requirements or restrictions on working from home.
As we near the one year point of everything closing down in March…and we hear about more and more blue cities and states opening up…it appears they have a lot of ground to make up on the freedoms we kept here in Iowa despite the pandemic.
