- Despite different restrictions during the pandemic, California and Florida have similar per capita rates of COVID-19 cases.
- Experts say safety rules are only part of the equation when it comes to COVID-19 case spread. There’s also housing density, income levels, and health systems.
- Experts note that North Dakota and South Dakota are among the least restrictive states but are among the highest in per capita cases.
California and Florida have taken different approaches to managing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both states initiated lockdowns early in the pandemic, but since then, Florida has eschewed mask mandates, lockdowns, and other public health guidelines to mitigate deaths and hospitalizations from COVID-19.
California, on the other hand, has had multiple lockdowns and a mask mandate in place since June 18, 2020.
Despite this, per capita cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from COVID-19 in these states are similar.
California has had about 8,900 cases per 100,000 people while Florida has had about 8,700 per 100,000.
That fact has been seized upon by some as evidence that mask wearing, physical distancing, and other mitigation efforts are not effective at preventing the spread of the virus.
However, experts say the real reason for this dynamic is much more complicated.
Source: healthline