Tennessee ranks among bottom 10 states in aggressive response to coronavirus

Despite closing schools and declaring a state of emergency, Tennessee is among one of the least aggressive states in tackling the growing coronavirus pandemic, according to a study released today.

The personal finance website WalletHub ranked Tennessee as the ninth least aggressive state in the nation for fighting the virus, primarily because the Volunteer State ranks in the bottom 10 of all states in the number of public health laboratories, in the number of tested coronavirus cases, in public heath spending per capita and in total public health emergency preparedness funding.

WalletHub, which analyzed 35 health care measurements, preventative steps and spending metrics to compile its list, ranked Rhode Island as the most aggressive state so far in fighting the virus. Rhode Island has closed schools, bars and restaurants and restricted travel for state employees while administering the most tests for coronavirus, COVID-19, for its size.

“Aggressiveness in combating the coronavirus is not all about recent actions, though,” WalletHub analyst Jill Gonzalez. “A lot of it is years in the making. For example, Rhode Island has the infrastructure to handle this type of pandemic in large part because of its relatively high funding for public health programs and its high number of health care facilities.”