NC Among States With Most Coronavirus Restrictions: Study

NORTH CAROLINA — A new report shows North Carolina is among the states that have implemented the most-restrictive measures in the country to combat the coronavirus, according to the personal finance website WalletHub.

This comes as state health officials on Wednesday announced 422 new cases of the coronavirus and 11 additional deaths, bringing the statewide total to 20,122 confirmed cases and 702 known deaths.

According to the study, North Carolina came in low — at No. 36 — in rankings of states with the fewest coronavirus restrictions. The state was ranked No. 21 in the country for its COVID-19 death rate.

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Gov. Roy Cooper announced Wednesday that the state was on track to move into the next phase of easing restrictions Friday, May 22. The "Phase 2" reopening, which is slated to last five weeks, will be modest due to the continued increase of COVID-19 cases in the state he said. Under the new executive order, restaurants, community swimming pools and salons will be allowed to reopen at 50 percent capacity with social distancing and cleaning requirements, however bars, gyms, indoor entertainment venues and public play grounds will remain closed.

RELATED: NC Cleared For 'Modest' Phase 2 To Begin Friday: Gov. Cooper

The least restrictive states in the country were South Dakota, Wisconsin and Idaho, according to the report. The WalletHub study put states into four general categories: those with low restrictions and low death rates, low restrictions and high death rates, high restrictions and low death rates, and high restrictions and high death rates.

North Carolina fell into the third category, ranking high for its number of restrictions and low death rate.

WalletHub considered 11 different metrics across 50 states and the District of Columbia to come up with its rankings. They include: mask requirements, travel restrictions, prohibitions on large gatherings, school closures, reopening of restaurants and bars, reopening of nonessential businesses, reopening of childcare programs, strictness of shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, presence of multi state agreements to reopen, suspension or postponement of legislative sessions and guidance on elective surgeries.

Read more about the methodology here.

Rebecca Bream, Patch staff, contributed.