Florida Is the State with the 7th Most Vulnerable Population to Coronavirus – WalletHub Study

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With nearly 75 percent of patients hospitalized for coronavirus being at least 50 years old, and around 90 percent having pre-existing conditions, it’s important for states with larger vulnerable populations to have greater protective measures. Vulnerability isn’t just health-related, though, as many people are harmed by the economic effects of the pandemic. To show where the biggest concentrations of “at-risk” people live, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the States with the Most Vulnerable Populations to Coronavirus, as well as accompanying videos.

To identify which states have the highest concentration of vulnerable people, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 28 key metrics in 3 overall categories: medical vulnerability, housing vulnerability and financial vulnerability. Their data set ranges from the share of the population aged 65 and older to the share of the homeless population that is unsheltered and the share of the entire population living in poverty. Below, you can see highlights from the report, along with a WalletHub Q&A.

Coronavirus Vulnerability in Florida (1=Most, 25=Avg.):

  • 1st– Share of Population Aged 65 & Older
  • 15th– Share of Population Diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
  • 8th– Share of Unsheltered Homeless Population
  • 23rd – Share of Households in Poverty Not Receiving Food Stamps
  • 2nd – Unemployment Insurance Recipiency Rate

For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-most-vulnerable-populations-to-coronavirus/73821/

Q&A with WalletHub

Should the U.S. focus primarily on providing medical support during the coronavirus pandemic?

“It’s important for the U.S. to dedicate a large portion of its resources to providing medical support during the coronavirus pandemic, but we should also support people who don’t have adequate housing or enough money to survive the pandemic,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “The financial damage caused by COVID-19 is leaving many Americans without the means to pay their bills and purchase necessities. Coronavirus is especially devastating to people who already lacked basic hygienic living conditions, such as the homeless. The U.S. must continue to support its financially vulnerable populations even after the virus has subsided.”

Is it possible to reopen the economy while still protecting the medically vulnerable?

“It is possible to reopen the economy while protecting the medically vulnerable by having rapid testing and contact tracing of infected people, along with easy access to low-cost deliveries of essential items and special accommodations at all essential businesses to protect the vulnerable,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst.

Why is West Virginia the most vulnerable state during the COVID-19 pandemic?

“West Virginia is the most vulnerable state during the COVID-19 pandemic in part because its citizens have the highest rates of chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and COPD, all of which make people more at-risk for serious coronavirus symptoms,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst.

Why does Utah have the least vulnerable population in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic?

“Utah has far fewer people with pre-existing conditions than most other states, along with the smallest elderly population, which means its citizens have a much lower risk of severe symptoms and hospitalization from coronavirus,” said Jill Gonzalez, WalletHub analyst. “Utah residents are well-prepared financially to survive the pandemic, as the state has the highest percentage of households who saved money for unexpected expenses or emergencies in the past 12 months.”

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