Red States Are Less Prepared for a Covid Resurgence

The defining feature of Covid-19 in America, beyond its sheer size, is the way it has been politicized.

Republican states, perhaps inspired by President Donald Trump’s willingness to downplay the threat to life and health, even in the wake of his own infection and hospitalization, tend to take a minimally cautious approach. Democratic states, some of which were hit hard in the early days of the pandemic, have generally tried more aggressively to contain the virus, mandating mask-wearing and social distancing, limiting indoor dining and embracing contact tracing. The data are clear that the blue-state strategy has been more successful in limiting the coronavirus’s spread.