States With Few Coronavirus Restrictions Are Spreading the Virus Beyond Their Borders

[Nevilledog]

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Maddow Blog
@MaddowBlog
“In some ways, the whole country is essentially living with the strategy of the least effective states because states interconnect and one state not doing a good job will continue to spread the virus to other states,”

States With Few Coronavirus Restrictions Are Spreading the Virus Beyond Their Borders
Lax states are attracting shoppers and students from stricter neighbors — and sending back COVID-19 cases. The imbalance underscores the lack of a national policy.
propublica.org

https://www.propublica.org/article/states-with-few-coronavirus-restrictions-are-spreading-the-virus-beyond-their-borders

For months after Washington state imposed one of the earliest and strictest COVID-19 lockdowns in March, Jim Gilliard didn’t stray far from his modular home near Waitts Lake, 45 miles north of Spokane.

The retiree was at high risk from the coronavirus, both because of his age, 70, and his medical condition. Several years ago, he had a defibrillator implanted. So he mainly ventured out during the pandemic to shop for food.

There wasn’t much else to do anyway. Gatherings in his county were limited to no more than 10 people, there was a mask mandate, movie theaters were closed and many nightclubs and concert venues were shuttered because of a state ban on all live entertainment, indoors and out.

An hour away in Idaho, life was more normal. The state left key COVID-19 regulations up to localities, many of which made masks optional. Even in places that required face coverings, enforcement was laxer than in Washington. High school sports, canceled for the fall in Washington, were on full display in Idaho. Most Idaho schools welcomed back students in person, in contrast to the remote learning prevailing in Washington. Businesses reopened earlier and with fewer restrictions. There were concerts and dances.

Weary of Washington’s restrictions, thousands of residents made the easy drive over the border to vacation, shop and dine in Idaho. Gilliard resisted temptation until he learned that the annual Panhandle Bluesfest would go on as scheduled near Priest River, Idaho, on Sept. 12. A keyboardist who used to own a blues club just outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Gilliard was buoyed after months of relative isolation by the prospect of hanging out with friends while listening to music on a remote mountainside surrounded by soaring pine trees and thick hemlocks. He decided to go.

*snip*

[Wounded Bear]

1. Gee, ya think? nt

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. well of course!!!! D'oh...

[SlogginThroughIt]

3. of course!

MN was doing well until we were surrounded by moron states.

[hedda_foil]

5. Illinois is in the same fix.

[liberal N proud]

4. Like a peeing section in the pool

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Minnesota is surrounded on all sides (except for Canada) by moron states.

North and South Dakota are a mess. Iowa and Wisconsin aren't much better. Wisconsin's governor tried to set some restrictions but their wingnut Supreme Court wouldn't let him. So they opened the bars, some of the most virus-ridden places in the universe, with no restrictions - and of course it all went to hell. The WI border is only a few miles from St. Paul's eastern suburbs, so Minnesota's stupid people are now going to WI to drink in bars and, of course, bring the virus home.

I swear to God, the human race is probably too fucking stupid to survive.

[SWBTATTReg]

7. Exactly the same thing here in STLMO. The city itself had restrictions etc. for the CV, but then...

you could drive into the county (10 miles or so), or across the river to Illinois, no restrictions. Vice versa too, we were having crowds come into the city, and then when things closed early in the city due to CV restrictions, they would run out to the county and continue.

[Wellstone ruled]

8. Call it what it is,

cross Border Contamination. Did a Grocery run yesterday A M,just blown away by the number of Cars from Arizona and Utah where limited restrictions are in place. And Yesterday Nevada set a new record for Positivity as well as deaths.

By the Weekend,we will most likely see one hell of a explosion in new cases. In our Community,the Trumper's all had mega Thanksgiving bash's.

[roamer65]

9. Governors are fully within their rights to restrict their borders via National Guard units.

I recommend they do it. Both incoming and outgoing traffic.

[rickyhall]

10. Arkansas is in the middle no mask country

and my local (De Queen) still lets idiots in without masks.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

11. I want to throw things at people who say

they are so tired of staying indoors, of not going anywhere, so they are by gum going to take the kids on vacation because they deserve it!

And then people are surprised when someone gets sick.