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Saturday, November 7, 2026Nov 7

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What states have the fewest coronavirus restrictions?

Coronavirus tile / photo courtesy of Getty Images
Coronavirus tile / photo courtesy of Getty Images Coronavirus tile / photo courtesy of Getty Images

Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama have relaxed most of their restrictions on business activities that were imposed in March to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but a new study shows such states are only slightly above the U.S. average in opening up their economies at this point.

The personal online website WalletHub analyzed 16 measures of how much each state continues to limit activity due to the coronavirus, including restrictions on large gatherings, restaurant and bar seating, school and child care approaches, workplace temperature screening and court and legislative schedules, among other factors. Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, Tennessee this week ranked as the 17th most open state, Georgia placed 18th and Alabama was No. 21.

WalletHub’s study showed that all states have at least partially reopened and are gradually expanding the types of businesses that are open.

Source: WalletHub

States with fewest restrictions

1. South Dakota 2. Wisconsin 3. Utah 4. South Carolina 5. North Dakota 6. Missouri 7. Iowa 8. Idaho 9. Oklahoma 10. Wyoming

States with the most restrictions

1. New Mexico 2. Vermont 3. California 4. Hawaii 5. New York 6. Maryland 7. New Hampshire 8. Virginia 9. New Jersey 10. Colorado Source: WalletHub