COVID-19 Policy Differences across US States : Shutdowns, Reopening, and Mask Mandates

This work used event study to examine the impact of three policies (shutdowns, reopening, and mask mandates) on changes in the daily COVID-19 infection growth rate at the state level in the US (February through August 2020). The results show the importance of early intervention: shutdowns and mask mandates reduced the COVID-19 infection growth rate immediately after being imposed statewide. Over the longer term, mask mandates had a larger effect on flattening the curve than shutdowns. The increase in the daily infection growth rate pushed state governments to shut down, but reopening led to significant increases in new cases 21 days afterward. The results suggest a dynamic social distancing approach: a shutdown for a short period followed by reopening, combined with universal mask wearing. We also found that the COVID-19 growth rate increased in states with higher percentages of essential workers (during reopening) and higher percentages of minorities (during the mask mandate period). Health insurance access for low-income workers (via Medicaid expansion) helped to reduce COVID-19 cases in the reopening model. The implications for public health show the importance of access to health insurance and mask mandates to protect low-income essential workers, but minority groups still face a higher risk of infection during the pandemic.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:17

Enthalten in:

International journal of environmental research and public health - 17(2020), 24 vom: 18. Dez.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Zhang, Xue [VerfasserIn]
Warner, Mildred E [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

COVID-19
Essential worker
Journal Article
Mask mandate
Medicaid expansion
Minority
Reopen
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Shut down
State policy

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 05.01.2021

Date Revised 05.01.2021

published: Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/ijerph17249520

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM31917672X