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Mario Tama/Staff/Getty Images News/Getty Images North America

Social Distancing

As the nation grapples with the spread of the coronavirus, many states are ramping up efforts to reduce transmission by enforcing social distancing. In some states, that has included leaders issuing mandatory stay-at-home orders; bans on all large gatherings; and closure of non-essential businesses. In other states, the approach has been less comprehensive. Using recently released Kaiser Family Foundation data and news reports, Cheapism took a closer look at how each state is trying to keep a lid on the coronavirus pandemic.


Note: State policies continue to evolve daily. The data covers state mandates; some cities and municipalities have enacted social-distancing orders at the local level.


Saundra Latham also contributed to this story.


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Kruck20/istockphoto

Alabama

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (25 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Chilkoot/istockphoto

Alaska

Stay-at-home order in effect? High-risk groups only
Non-essential businesses closed? In select locations
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Davel5957/istockphoto

Arizona

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

zrfphoto/istockphoto

Arkansas

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Jon Bilous/shutterstock

California

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (all gatherings)
Schools closed? Yes (not officially mandated, but an effect of stay-at-home order)
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Richard Bittles/istockphoto

Colorado

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

pabradyphoto/istockphoto

Connecticut

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (50 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto

Delaware

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (50 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Bumblee_Dee/istockphoto

District of Columbia

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Art Wager/istockphoto

Florida

Stay-at-home order in effect? High-risk groups only
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

traveler1116/istockphoto

Georgia

Stay-at-home order in effect? High-risk groups only
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? No (limited on-site service allowed)

okimo/istockphoto

Hawaii

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

peeterv/istockphoto

Idaho

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes 
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes 
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout, drive-thru, and delivery allowed)

JaySi/istockphoto

Illinois

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (all gatherings)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Wislander/istockphoto

Indiana

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (all gatherings)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

LarryLindell/istockphoto

Iowa

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? No
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

LawrenceSawyer/istockphoto

Kansas

Stay-at-home order in effect?  Yes (beginning Monday, March 30 at 12:01 a.m.)
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? No (limited on-site service allowed)

traveler1116/istockphoto

Kentucky

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Non-essential retail only
Large gatherings ban? Yes (unspecified "mass gatherings")
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

lucentius/istockphoto

Louisiana

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto

Maine

Stay-at-home order in effect? No 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? No
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

f11photo/shutterstock

Maryland

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Jorge Salcedo/shutterstock

Massachusetts

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

pawel.gaul/istockphoto

Michigan

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (all gatherings)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

StevenGaertner/istockphoto

Minnesota

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes 
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Dan Thornberg/shutterstock

Mississippi

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? No

TriggerPhoto/istockphoto

Missouri

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

peeterv/istockphoto

Montana

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Davel5957/istockphoto

Nebraska

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? In select locations
Schools closed? In select locations
Bars and restaurants closed? In select locations

Cybernesco/istockphoto

Nevada

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

juliaf/istockphoto

New Hampshire

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Ultima_Gaina/istockphoto

New Jersey

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

benedek/istockphoto

New Mexico

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Eloi_Omella/istockphoto

New York

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (take-out and delivery only)

traveler1116/istockphoto

North Carolina

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes (beginning Monday, March 30 at 5 p.m.)
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto

North Dakota

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Davel5957/istockphoto

Ohio

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Majestic_Aerials/istockphoto

Oklahoma

Stay-at-home order in effect? High-risk groups only
Non-essential businesses closed?  Yes (in counties where COVID-19 cases have been reported)
Large gatherings ban? Yes 
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? In select counties (takeout and delivery allowed)

4nadia/istockphoto

Oregon

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Pgiam/istockphoto

Pennsylvania

Stay-at-home order in effect? In select locations only
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? No
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

SeanPavonePhoto/istockphoto

Rhode Island

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes 
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes 
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

traveler1116/istockphoto

South Carolina

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (50 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Wollertz/shutterstock

South Dakota

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? No

Sean Pavone/istockphoto

Tennessee

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Sean Pavone/shutterstock

Texas

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

ferrantraite/istockphoto

Utah

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto

Vermont

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes 
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto

Virginia

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

aiisha5/istockphoto

Washington

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Sean Pavone/istockphoto

West Virginia

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Davel5957/istockphoto

Wisconsin

Stay-at-home order in effect? Yes
Non-essential businesses closed? Yes
Large gatherings ban? Yes
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)

Downtown Rawlins, Wyoming by Jimmy Emerson, DVM (CC BY-NC-ND)

Wyoming

Stay-at-home order in effect? No
Non-essential businesses closed? No
Large gatherings ban? Yes (10 or more people)
Schools closed? Yes
Bars and restaurants closed? Yes (takeout and delivery allowed)