NSC report finds 39 states need to do more to protect residents from COVID-19
Nonprofit safety advocate urges leaders to prioritize safety
A new National Safety Council report reveals 39 states did not go far enough to protect residents from the century’s biggest threat to safety. Despite COVID-19 claiming more lives than accidental drug overdoses, motor vehicle crashes and falls combined, the State of Response: State Actions to Address the Pandemic report uncovers an inconsistent approach that has jeopardized safety – and may have imperiled it for years to come – due to the pandemic’s impact on issues such as addiction, traffic and workplace safety.
Only 12 states received an ‘on-track’ rating from NSC, with New Mexico, New York, California, Rhode Island and Washington leading the pack with the highest overall ratings. Ten states received an ‘off-track’ rating, with Mississippi and South Dakota receiving the lowest overall rating. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia fell into the middle ‘lagging’ category.