(File photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX — Arizona was recently ranked one of the least safe states in the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to one personal finance website.
WalletHub compared all 50 states and the District of Columbia on vaccination rate, positive testing rate, hospitalization rate, death rate and transmission rate, giving each a point value with death rate being worth the most points.
Arizona came in at No. 48 on the list with a point value of 43.85.
Meanwhile, the state ranked in the middle of the pack (No. 32) on vaccination rate.
A year ago, the state was recording thousands of new cases a day in what would the first of two spikes.
The second spike during the winter months had upwards of 8,000 to 12,000 cases reported cases each day with more than 100 deaths, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services dashboard.
Arizona hasn’t recorded a day with 1,000 new reported cases since March 1 and not more than 20 deaths since March 16, driven by vaccinations.
Even though demand for vaccines in Arizona has slowed, nearly 50% of the state’s population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine with more than 3.1 million people being fully vaccinated against the virus.
Vermont was considered the safest state in the country during COVID-19 due to its high vaccination rate and low hospitalization rate as well as being tied for the lowest death rate.