The response across the United States to coronavirus containment has been varied, to say the least. New York and California led the way early on with strict lockdowns, business closings, and mask requirements, and other states followed gradually. As the situation has evolved, all states have at least partially reopened, a WalletHub study finds, but the country is still not back to business as usual — and many states have put a hard pause on easing restrictions further until there’s more progress against fighting COVID-19. Here’s how the states rank across 17 metrics of coronavirus restrictions such as mask requirements, bans on large gatherings, and reopening of schools, bars, and restaurants with service limits such as outdoor seating only or reduced capacity. States are listed from most restrictive to least restrictive.
Related: Are People in Your State Staying Home?
51. Hawaii (Most Restrictive)
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to five School restart: State-ordered regional closing in effect Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: New service limits imposed
Related: 15 Ways the Coronavirus Has Changed Americans’ Daily Lives
50. California (2nd-Most Restrictive)
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned (all gatherings) School restart: State-ordered regional closing in effect Restaurants: Closed except for takeout/delivery or newly closed to dine-in service Bars: Closed
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49. Virginia
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Closed
Related: Americans’ Top 10 Biggest Fears About the Coronavirus Pandemic
48. Massachusetts
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: Closed
Related: 41 Things to Do to Before Lockdown Ends
47. Arizona
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: Closed
Related: Pandemic Phrases That Have Infected Our Vocabulary
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46. Maine
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
45. Colorado
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
Related: 25 Things That Can Wait Until the Coronavirus Lockdown Is Over
44. Oregon
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to 10 indoors School restart: State-ordered regional closing in effect Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: New service limits imposed
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43. Pennsylvania
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: Closed
Related: How to Disinfect Without Harming Your Stuff (or Yourself)
42. New Jersey
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
41. District of Columbia
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: State-ordered regional closing in effect Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
Related: COVID-19 Skeptics Who Contracted the Virus
40. Connecticut
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
39. Vermont
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Formerly closed but fully reopened
Related: How to Recognize Coronavirus Fraud and Other Big Phone Scams
38. North Carolina
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Hybrid or remote instruction only Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
37. Kentucky
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for 10 or fewer School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: New service limits imposed
Related: How Unhealthy Was Your State When the Coronavirus Hit?
35. Washington (tie)
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to five School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: Closed
35. New Mexico (tie)
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: State-ordered regional closing in effect Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
Related: The One Thing America Isn’t Doing That’s Helping Other Countries Combat COVID-19
34. Texas
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to 10 School restart: State-ordered in-person instruction, part-time or full-time Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
33. New York
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
Related: This Is the Only Disinfectant Proven to Kill the Coronavirus
32. Rhode Island
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: New service limits imposed
31. Delaware
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Hybrid or remote instruction only Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: New service limits imposed
Related: 39 Companies That Have Filed for Bankruptcy Since the Pandemic Began — and 13 That Could Be Next
30. Minnesota
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to five School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
29. New Hampshire
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
28. Montana
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
27. West Virginia
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: State-ordered regional closing in effect Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
26. Michigan
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to 10 indoors School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
Related: Car Buyers Could Score a Deal on These Models Thanks to COVID-19
25. Maryland
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
24. Florida
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: State-ordered in-person instruction, part-time or full-time Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
Related: How COVID-19 Is Changing Retirement in America
23. Indiana
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
22. Louisiana
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Closed
21. Tennessee
Mask in public: City and town officials set policy Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
20. Illinois
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
19. Kansas
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
18. Mississippi
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Banned; gatherings allowed for up to five School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: New service limits imposed
17. Ohio
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limited to 25 or fewer participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: New service limits imposed
16. Nevada
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
Related: 12 Things You Likely Won’t See at the Next Wedding You Attend
15. South Carolina
Mask in public: City and town officials set policy Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Limited dine-in or other service limits Bars: New service limits imposed
14. Alabama
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
13. Alaska
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
12. Missouri
Mask in public: No action Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
11. Idaho
Mask in public: No action Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
10. Georgia
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
Related: This U.S. Airline Has Cut 76% of Its Routes
9. Nebraska
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
8. Wisconsin
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
7. North Dakota
Mask in public: No action Large gatherings: Never banned School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
6. Arkansas
Mask in public: Required Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: State-ordered in-person instruction, part-time or full-time Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
Related: How Shopping at Walmart Has Changed During the Coronavirus Pandemic
5. Wyoming
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
4. Iowa
Mask in public: City and town officials set policy Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: State-ordered in-person instruction, part-time or full-time Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
3. Oklahoma
Mask in public: No action Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Reopened for limited dine-in Bars: Fully reopened
2. Utah
Mask in public: Required for certain employees Large gatherings: Limit expanded to more than 25 participants School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Fully reopened Bars: Fully reopened
1. South Dakota (Least Restrictive)
Mask in public: No action Large gatherings: All restrictions lifted School restart: Varies by school/district Restaurants: Never closed Bars: Fully reopened
