COVID-19: US shelter-in-place orders and demographic characteristics linked to cases, mortality, and recovery rates

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between the duration (in days) of states’ shelter-in-place orders; state demographic characteristics; and the rates of spread (cases), death (mortality), and recovery of COVID-19 in the USA. Design/methodology/approach State-level data across 50 states and Washington D.C. from January 23, 2020, to June 11, 2020, and a multivariate regression analysis were used to empirically investigate the impacts of the duration of shelter-in-place orders and state demographic characteristics on the rates of cases, mortality and recovery per capita of COVID-19. Findings This study finds that a longer duration of a shelter-in-place order is associated with lower cases and deaths per capita from COVID-19. This study also finds that demographic characteristics, such as the percentage of people who are unsheltered homeless, family size, percentage of individuals with health insurance, income inequality, unemployment rate, gender and race, are related to cases, mortality and recovery rates of COVID-19. Social implications This study offers policy implications for state and locality (e.g., city, region and country) lockdown decisions and salient demographics to consider curbing the spread and mortality rate of the COVID-19 pandemic. Study results are important to consider as the world braces for the anticipated resurgence of COVID-19. Originality/value This study reveals that the duration of shelter-in-place orders and demographics in states are related to the rates of spread, mortality, and recovery of COVID-19.

A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups

“…They may also face less favourable employment conditions, such as temporary contracts, part-time employment, self-employment and employment in the low-income informal sector. Low-income levels also correlate with poor health 77 , 78 , poor housing conditions and even homelessness 78 . As low-income populations typically have few savings, the loss of their job or income can further worsen their financial situation, causing other health risks, such as food insecurity 79 .…”

“…Fifty-eight studies across 19 countries find similar results regarding the challenges faced by low-income populations in adhering strictly to various physical distancing measures. These include congregated living spaces, a dearth of sanitation facilities, an inability to work from home (e.g., if they work in the manufacturing and processing industries), a lack of access to job protection or paid leave, food shortages and food insecurity, worsened financial conditions and being forced to live off savings, a lack of regular access to basic hygiene, and a lack of resources and infrastructure for testing, isolation and contract tracing 10 , 38 , 78 – 101 . Lockdowns are reported to be less effective in containing and reducing new COVID-19 cases in low-income countries and communities 97 , 102 – 104 .…”

Effectiveness of social distancing measures and lockdowns for reducing transmission of COVID-19 in non-healthcare, community-based settings

“…As infections spread, the UK also announced a lockdown on 23 March 2020 and began a phased reopening by mid-May that year. Here, we included 151 studies estimating the effectiveness of stay-at-home orders (electronic supplementary material, appendix A, Table S13), 119 of which found a substantial benefit resulting in a reduction of the reproduction number (Rt) [ 16 , 23 , 33 , 35 , 38 , 45 , 48 , 60 – 97 ], incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection [ 29 , 50 , 52 , 98 – 129 ] and mortality [ 107 , 116 , 130 – 143 ].…”

Employment inequality in India during the pandemic

“…Countries across the globe have adopted multiple policies to sustain income during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, depending on the fiscal capacity, population structure, size of the informal sector, healthcare infrastructure and the percentage of people below the poverty line (Adam et al, 2020;Alderman and Harjoto, 2021;Casale and Posel, 2020;Gerard et al, 2020;Gonz alez-Bustamante, 2021;Lim et al, 2020). Countries all over the world have also initiated labor policies to improve employment (Brewer and Gardiner, 2020;Mayhew and Anand, 2020;Zhnag, 2020;Kesar et al, 2021;Miyamura, 2021).…”

“…Countries across the globe have adopted multiple policies to sustain income during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, depending on the fiscal capacity, population structure, size of the informal sector, healthcare infrastructure and the percentage of people below the poverty line (Adam et al. , 2020; Alderman and Harjoto, 2021; Casale and Posel, 2020; Gerard et al. , 2020; González-Bustamante, 2021; Lim et al.…”