Minnesota

of children in MN attend school? Every state has the back-to-school problem.

In Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Supremacist Court tied the hands of Gov Evers, though I think some counties were able to impose mandates and restrictions (though nobody is doing that this year, that I'm aware of).

I suppose I can't say this here, but I very much admired Mpls Mayor Frey for being strictest on the bar & restaurant restrictions last year. Keeping e.g. the no sitting or standing at counters and the physical bar for longer than anywhere else. And even the bar & restaurant closings longer.

In Iowa, NoDak, and SoDak, right-wing governors haven't imposed any restrictions other than back in the first few months of the pandemic.

Anyway, this year in this fall wave, there aren't any restrictions or mandates anywhere in any of the 5 states other than some imposed by businesses, or the unenforced federal mask mandate on public transportation AFAIK, some schools, so it's pretty much all down to how people behave -- how many get vaccinated, wear masks, stay away from crowded places, etc.

Last year in the fall-winter, MN spent time in the #1 spot too. Before that there was a period when we were an oasis of relatively low covid cases compared to all our neighbors. Its interesting how the rankings of states change with time.