Not sure that those states are "doing fine". Per capita, they have a much higher number of cases and the number of cases are also rising in comparison with states like NY and NJ that had things worse but were aggressive in handling the situation [1].

I mean those states are nowhere near the front lines of where COVID would first strike or spread, but the complete apathy to the threat of COVID is going to have consequences. The numbers are already beginning to show that.

1: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/corona...