(KMOX) - Missouri has been named the least-safe state during the COVID-19 pandemic in a recent study.
The study by WalletHub found that Missouri ranks in last place among all 50 states plus D.C. with a final score of 18.35 – behind Arkansas (25.29) and Nevada (26.59). The safest states are Vermont (89.62), Massachusetts (87.15) and Connecticut (85.92).
The personal finance site found these scores by using data on the rates of COVID-19 transmission, positive testing, hospitalizations and death, as well as the share of the eligible population getting vaccinated from all states and D.C. Here's how Missouri ranked in each:
40th – Vaccination Rate
50th – Positive Testing Rate
48th – Hospitalization Rate
50th – Death Rate
44th – Transmission Rate
Illinois came in a No. 21 with a score of 68.47.
Missouri reported 1,180 new coronavirus infections on Wednesday, the first time the daily total exceeded 1,000 since Feb. 11 and the first time the number was above 1,100 since Feb 5.
The sharp increase in coronavirus positives, along with escalating hospitalizations, is due to two factors: the highly contagious Delta variant taking hold in the state, and the low vaccination rate in young people and rural areas.
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