Seven states with no state-wide mandated bans on large gatherings were called out by MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Wednesday night.
Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi, Idaho, and Wyoming, all states that lean Republican, were not yet heavily impacted by the coronavirus and have not yet enacted state bans on large gatherings, bars, restaurants, or school closures.
Maddow, a liberal activist, did not note any Democratic states – including ones most heavily impacted by the coronavirus and hubs of international travel, tourism, and business – waited well until many, many infections and deaths before taking drastic action.
She does admit the states have "non-binding recommendations" amid the national emergency and global coronavirus pandemic.
"Urgings, strong feelings expressed by leaders," she said, admitting some businesses and schools in these states have been proactive in enacting their own restrictions.
"Cause, sure, why not? Make it up yourself, see how it goes," she said. "No reason to panic, right? No reason to hustle. Let's see how this plays out."
Among the states she called out, here is the current coronavirus confirmed case and death total, according to Worldometer, which uses Johns Hopkins University infectious disease data and the World Health Organization:
- Texas 229 cases / 3 deaths.
- Oklahoma 46 / 1.
- Missouri 26 / 1.
- Tennessee 106 / 0.
- Mississippi 50 / 0.
- Wyoming 18 / 0.
- Idaho 11 / 0.
Washington (68 U.S.-high deaths), California (17), New York (21), and Massachusetts (0) are the states most heavily impacted, because they have populous city centers, tourism, and travel.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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