Blue States Have Been Hit Much Harder by COVID-19. Why?

In March, data guru Nate Silver wrote about the different ways blue states and red states were experiencing the COVID-19 epidemic, noting that “states Clinton won do have considerably more total reported cases.” 

COVID-19 was not just a blue state problem though. Silver pointed out that cases in red states were increasing far more rapidly. “Nine of the 10 states that have seen the most rapid increase in coronavirus from Monday to Thursday are states that voted for Trump in 2016,” Silver wrote. 

Days later, The Atlantic published an article titled “The Coronavirus’s Unique Threat to the South.” The article saw similar ominous signs for red states, particularly a “four-state arc of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.” 

Months later we have a more complete picture of the data, which shows blue states have borne the brunt of the COVID devastation. Eleven of the 12 states (including the District of Columbia) with the highest COVID-19 fatality rates are traditional blue states. Leading the way, unsurprisingly, is New York, which posted the highest deaths, total (31,346) and per capita (1,611 per 1M).* New Jersey is not far behind New York, however (1,478/1M). These states are followed by Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia. Just one red state—Louisiana, seventh highest with 680/1M—cracked the top twelve. 

The question is, why? After all, blue states tended to have the most stringent lockdowns. 

Indeed ...

GRTWT.