scholarly journals The Politics of Pandemics: The Effect of Stay-At-Home Orders on COVID-19 Mitigation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Shawn Patterson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Party Politics ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
State Governments ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Contemporary Politics ◽  
Hospital Systems ◽  
At Home

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has upended every aspect of American life. State governments responded quickly to protect public health and stabilize overwhelmed hospital systems. The most restrictive policy, the stay-at-home order, was seen by public health officials as a cornerstone of successful state mitigation strategies. But like many aspects of contemporary politics, support for these efforts took on a distinctly partisan hue. In this paper, I argue that party politics significantly affected state policy responses to COVID-19, which in turn limited mitigation efforts. To this point, I first demonstrate that Democratic governors were faster and more likely to adopt stay-at-home orders than Republicans. Next, using a synthetic control approach, I show that these orders caused residents to practice greater social distancing. Finally, I find that greater social distancing worked to “flattened the curve” by limiting the growth of COVID-19 cases. Together these findings show how party politics affected state pandemic responses and have important long-term implications as states begin lifting restrictions.

scholarly journals Quantifying the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 outbreak: The case of Sweden

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sang-Wook (Stanley) Cho
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Excess Mortality ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Synthetic Control ◽  
Framework Analysis ◽  
Control Approach ◽  
Percentage Points ◽  
Elderly Cohort ◽  
Nonpharmaceutical Interventions ◽  
The Impact

Summary This paper estimates the effect of nonpharmaceutical intervention policies on public health during the COVID-19 outbreak by considering a counterfactual case for Sweden. Using a synthetic control approach, I find that strict initial lockdown measures play an important role in limiting the spread of the COVID-19 infection, as the infection cases in Sweden would have been reduced by almost 75 percent had its policymakers followed stricter containment policies. As people dynamically adjust their behaviour in response to information and policies, the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions becomes visible, with a time lag of around 5 weeks. Supplementary robustness checks and an alternative difference-in-differences framework analysis do not fundamentally alter the main conclusions. Finally, extending the analysis to excess mortality, I find that the lockdown measures would have been associated with a lower excess mortality rate in Sweden by 25 percentage points, with a steep age gradient of 29 percentage points for the most vulnerable elderly cohort. The outcome of this study can assist policymakers in laying out future guidelines to further protect public health, as well as facilitate plans for economic recovery.

How Quarantine Attempts to Universalize the Black Condition

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-706
Author(s):  
Kelly L. Bezio
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Primary Concern ◽  
Critical Race ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Chattel Slavery ◽  
Basic Goods ◽  
Black Bodies ◽  
The Right ◽  
At Home

Abstract This essay establishes similarities between control over Black bodies’ movement under chattel slavery and social distancing measures employed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its primary concern is how protecting public health necessitates undesired movement on the part of marginalized, historically disenfranchised populations to secure supply chains and ensure access to basic goods, foodstuffs, and medicines for those sheltering at home. Structuring its claims within the critical race theories of Saidiya V. Hartman, Achille Mbembe, and Elizabeth Maddock Dillon, it draws attention to how an enslaved condition in which one lacked the right to choose to move or hold still is now being extended to a class of workers deemed essential.

scholarly journals Rapid Real-time Tracking of Nonpharmaceutical Interventions and Their Association With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Positivity: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic Pulse Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J Clipman ◽  
Amy P Wesolowski ◽  
Dustin G Gibson ◽  
Smisha Agarwal ◽  
Anastasia S Lambrou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Public Transportation ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
History Of ◽  
Nonpharmaceutical Interventions

Abstract Background Current mitigation strategies for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) rely on the population-wide adoption of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Monitoring the adoption of NPIs and their associations with SARS-CoV-2 infection history can provide key information for public health. Methods We sampled 1030 individuals in Maryland from 17–28 June 2020 to capture sociodemographically and geographically resolved information about NPI adoption and access to SARS-CoV-2 testing, and examine associations with self-reported SARS-CoV-2 positivity. Results Overall, 92% reported traveling for essential services and 66% visited friends/family. Use of public transport was reported by 18%. In total, 68% reported strict social distancing indoors and 53% reported strict masking indoors; indoor social distancing was significantly associated with age, and race/ethnicity and income were associated with masking. Overall, 55 participants (5.3%) self-reported ever testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, with strong dose-response relationships between several forms of movement frequency and SARS-CoV-2 positivity. In a multivariable analysis, a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection was negatively associated with strict social distancing (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for outdoor social distancing, 0.10; 95% confidence interval, .03–.33). Only public transport use (aOR for >7 times vs never, 4.3) and visiting a place of worship (aOR for ≥3 times vs never, 16.0) remained significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection after adjusting for strict social distancing and demographics. Conclusions These results support public health messaging that strict social distancing during most activities can reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Additional considerations are needed for indoor activities with large numbers of persons (places of worship and public transportation), where even NPIs may not be possible or sufficient.

scholarly journals Time-series clustering for home dwell time during COVID-19: what can we learn from it?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Huang ◽  
Zhenlong Li ◽  
Junyu Lu ◽  
Sicheng Wang ◽  
Hanxue Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Dwell Time ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Time Series Clustering ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Socioeconomic Variables ◽  
Disadvantaged Groups ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
At Home

In this study, we investigate the potential driving factors that lead to the disparity in the time-series of home dwell time, aiming to provide fundamental knowledge that benefits policy-making for better mitigation strategies of future pandemics. Taking Metro Atlanta as a study case, we perform a trend-driven analysis by conducting Kmeans time-series clustering using fine-grained home dwell time records from SafeGraph, and further assess the statistical significance of sixteen demographic/socioeconomic variables from five major categories. We find that demographic/socioeconomic variables can explain the disparity in home dwell time in response to the stay-at-home order, which potentially leads to disparate exposures to the risk from the COVID-19. The results further suggest that socially disadvantaged groups are less likely to follow the order to stay at home, pointing out the extensive gaps in the effectiveness of social distancing measures exist between socially disadvantaged groups and others. Our study reveals that the long-standing inequity issue in the U.S. stands in the way of the effective implementation of social distancing measures. Policymakers need to carefully evaluate the inevitable trade-off among different groups, making sure the outcomes of their policies reflect interests of the socially disadvantaged groups.

scholarly journals “I don’t feel safe sitting in my own yard”: Chicago resident experiences with urban rats during a COVID-19 stay-at-home order

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen H. Murray ◽  
Kaylee A. Byers ◽  
Jacqueline Buckley ◽  
Seth B. Magle ◽  
Dorothy Maffei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Rodent Control ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Apartment Buildings ◽  
At Home

Abstract Background Encounters with rats in urban areas increase risk of human exposure to rat-associated zoonotic pathogens and act as a stressor associated with psychological distress. The frequency and nature of human-rat encounters may be altered by social distancing policies to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, restaurant closures may reduce food availability for rats and promote rat activity in nearby residential areas, thus increasing public health risks during a period of public health crisis. In this study, we aimed to identify factors associated with increased perceived exposure to rats during a stay-at-home order, describe residents’ encounters with rats relevant to their health and well-being, and identify factors associated with increased use of rodent control. Methods Urban residents in Chicago, a large city with growing concerns about rats and health disparities, completed an online questionnaire including fixed response and open-ended questions during the spring 2020 stay-at-home order. Analyses included ordinal multivariate regression, spatial analysis, and thematic analysis for open-ended responses. Results Overall, 21% of respondents (n = 835) reported an increase in rat sightings around their homes during the stay-at-home order and increased rat sightings was positively associated with proximity to restaurants, low-rise apartment buildings, and rat feces in the home (p ≤ 0.01). Many respondents described feeling unsafe using their patio or yard, and afraid of rats entering their home or spreading disease. Greater engagement with rodent control was associated with property ownership, information about rat control, and areas with lower incomes (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions More frequent rat encounters may be an unanticipated public health concern during periods of social distancing, especially in restaurant-dense areas or in low-rise apartment buildings. Rat presence may also limit residents’ ability to enjoy nearby outdoor spaces, which otherwise might buffer stress experienced during a stay-at-home order. Proactive rat control may be needed to mitigate rat-associated health risks during future stay-at-home orders.

scholarly journals “I don’t feel safe sitting in my own yard”: Chicago resident experiences with urban rats during a COVID-19 stay-at-home order

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen H. Murray ◽  
Kaylee A. Byers ◽  
Jacqueline Buckley ◽  
Seth B. Magle ◽  
Dorothy Maffei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Rodent Control ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Apartment Buildings ◽  
At Home

AbstractBackgroundEncounters with rats in urban areas increase risk of human exposure to rat-associated zoonotic pathogens and act as a stressor associated with psychological distress. The frequency and nature of human-rat encounters may be altered by social distancing policies to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, restaurant closures may reduce food availability for rats and promote rat activity in nearby residential areas, thus increasing public health risks during a period of public health crisis. In this study, we aimed to identify factors associated with increased perceived exposure to rats during a stay-at-home order, describe residents’ encounters with rats relevant to their health and well-being, and identify factors associated with increased use of rodent control.MethodsUrban residents in Chicago, a large city with growing concerns about rats and health disparities, completed an online questionnaire including fixed response and open-ended questions during the spring 2020 stay-at-home order. Analyses included ordinal multivariate regression, spatial analysis, and thematic analysis for open-ended responses.ResultsOverall, 21% of respondents (n=835) reported an increase in rat sightings around their homes during the stay-at-home order and increased rat sightings was positively associated with proximity to restaurants, low-rise apartment buildings, and rat feces in the home (p≤0.01). Many respondents described feeling unsafe using their patio or yard, and afraid of rats entering their home or spreading disease. Greater engagement with rodent control was associated with property ownership, information about rat control, and lower incomes (p≤0.01).ConclusionsMore frequent rat encounters may be an unanticipated public health concern during periods of social distancing, especially in restaurant-dense areas or in low-rise apartment buildings. Rat presence may also limit residents’ ability to enjoy nearby outdoor spaces, which otherwise might buffer stress experienced during a stay-at-home order. Proactive rat control may be needed to mitigate rat-associated health risks during future stay-at-home orders.

scholarly journals Time-Series Clustering for Home Dwell Time during COVID-19: What Can We Learn from It?

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 675
Author(s):  
Xiao Huang ◽  
Zhenlong Li ◽  
Junyu Lu ◽  
Sicheng Wang ◽  
Hanxue Wei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Dwell Time ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Time Series Clustering ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Socioeconomic Variables ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Disadvantaged Groups ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
At Home

In this study, we investigate the potential driving factors that lead to the disparity in the time-series of home dwell time in a data-driven manner, aiming to provide fundamental knowledge that benefits policy-making for better mitigation strategies of future pandemics. Taking Metro Atlanta as a study case, we perform a trend-driven analysis by conducting Kmeans time-series clustering using fine-grained home dwell time records from SafeGraph. Furthermore, we apply ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) coupled with post-hoc Tukey’s test to assess the statistical difference in sixteen recoded demographic/socioeconomic variables (from ACS 2014–2018 estimates) among the identified time-series clusters. We find that demographic/socioeconomic variables can explain the disparity in home dwell time in response to the stay-at-home order, which potentially leads to disparate exposures to the risk from the COVID-19. The results further suggest that socially disadvantaged groups are less likely to follow the order to stay at home, pointing out the extensive gaps in the effectiveness of social distancing measures that exist between socially disadvantaged groups and others. Our study reveals that the long-standing inequity issue in the U.S. stands in the way of the effective implementation of social distancing measures.

scholarly journals State-level Stay-at-home Orders and Objectively Measured Movement in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kyle J. Bourassa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Public Health Intervention ◽  
State Level ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
The United States ◽  
Total Change ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Objectively Measured ◽  
At Home

Objective: Social distancing has been one of the primary interventions used to slow the spread of COVID-19. State-wide stay-at-home orders received a large degree of attention as a public health intervention to increase social distancing, but relatively little peer-reviewed research has examined the extent to which stay-at-home orders affected people’s behavior. Method: This study used GPS-derived movement from 2,858 counties in the United States from March 1 to May 7, 2020 to test the degree to which changes in state-level stay-at-home orders were associated with movement outside the home. Results: From the first week of March to the first week of April, people in counties within states that enacted stay-at-home orders decreased their movement significantly more than people in counties within states that did not enact state-level stay-at-home orders. From the first week of April to the first week of May, people in counties within states that ended their stay-at-home orders increased their movement significantly more than people in counties within states whose stay-at-home orders remained in place. The magnitude of change in movement associated with state-level stay-at-home orders was many times smaller than the total change in movement across all counties over the same periods of time in both cases. Conclusions: Stay-at-home orders are likely insufficient to reduce people’s movement outside the home without additional public health actions. Existing research on behavior change would be useful to determine what additional interventions could support social distancing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic if becomes necessary to reduce movement in the future.

“I stay at work for you, you stay at home for us.” Does this Covid-19 campaign work for the youth in Asia?

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-175
Author(s):  
Jappy Fanggidae ◽  
Ridolof Batilmurik ◽  
Pieter Samadara
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Method ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Asian Context ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
At Home

This study investigated the relationship between guilt appeal and compliance with social distancing measures. We proposed that the relationship is double mediated by empathy and responsibility for the unfortunate people who have suffered from COVID-19. This research is novel to an extent as an experimental method is used in the Asian context. The results exhibited that guilt positively affected compliance with social distancing measures. The respondents were directly or indirectly compliant due to the emotions of empathy and responsibility. The theoretical and practical contributions of this study were presented.

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