Thread by @politico

When Trump decided to delegate the pandemic response to the states, he gave them a chance to call their own shots. Here are 8 lessons from the states best battling the coronavirus politico.com/news/2020/10/1…

Few states have a record as unblemished as Vermont. The state:

• reopened slowly
• gave local governments authority to set their own stricter rules
• requires a two-week quarantine for people arriving from places with higher infection rates
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Washington state shows larger urban centers can mount an effective defense against the virus with rapid coordination and an early focus on vulnerable populations politi.co/2SXp0tu

Michigan formed a task force that helped expand testing to communities of color through walk-up and pop-up sites. Vulnerable populations, including those in nursing homes, homeless shelters, and prisons have gotten extra attention for Covid containment. politi.co/2SXp0tu

All states have struggled in the face of an avalanche of jobless claims, which have weighed down their ability to get the money out. But Colorado has one of the best records on paying out funds quickly. politi.co/2SXp0tu

Iowa had the highest average wage replacement rate of any in the country, giving workers roughly 50 percent of lost wages.

Neighboring Minnesota similarly has a generous replacement rate, only slightly lower than Iowa’s. politi.co/2SXp0tu

The pandemic cut off income and depleted the savings of millions of Americans to the point that they can no longer pay their rent. Massachusetts and Connecticut stand out in helping keep renters in their homes. politi.co/2SXp0tu

By land mass, Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation. It’s also one of the least populous, with about 1 million residents and about 140,000 public school students. But Rhode Island didn’t luck into in-person learning by virtue of being small. politi.co/2SXp0tu

While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has drawn criticism for pressuring schools into reopening for in-person instruction by threatening to withhold funding for some, the state has stood out where schools have resorted to remote instruction politi.co/2SXp0tu