From wearing masks to getting tested, responsible preventative behaviors can drastically decrease the spread of COVID-19. With public health officials urging Americans to follow preventative behaviors, we’ve found that New Jersey is 2nd among the most responsible states in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

My team analyzed data including the percentage of adults wearing masks in public, the percentage of people sheltering in place, and the number of administered coronavirus tests to find the most and least responsible states during the coronavirus pandemic. A quick look at what we found:

• New Jersey is the 2nd most responsible state during COVID-19. With high levels of coronavirus tests per capita and nearly 60% of adults reporting they wear facial coverings when in public, the Garden State lands at No. 2 on our rankings. Tragically, as of July 6, 2020, New Jersey has the highest coronavirus death toll. This could also be leading the state’s residents to be more cautious.
• New York is the most responsible state. A high share of New Yorkers (over 30%) are sheltering at home, and a majority of adults self-report wearing masks when in public (53%.) Additionally, only Rhode Island has conducted more coronavirus tests per capita than the state of New York.
• The least responsible state during COVID-19? South Carolina. Though testing rates are fairly high in the Palmetto State, and a large share of South Carolinians report wearing a mask in public, very few are choosing to stay at home, and the state government is not mandating them to do so. This is leading to some of the worst coronavirus stats in the nation.

You can view the full study here: The Most & Least Responsible States During COVID-19