Water Shutoff Moratoria Lowered COVID-19 Infection and Death Across U.S. States

Abstract

Introduction: Thirty-four U.S. state governments imposed moratoria on water shutoffs between March and May 2020 to ensure equitable access to water during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, by the end of 2020 most of these moratoria had expired, and millions of people were exposed to the risk of water disconnections. This study examines the linkage between water equity and public health, and provides policy recommendations for improving water access and health equity. Methods: Event study was used to analyze the impact of a water shutoff moratorium on COVID-19 daily infection growth rate and daily death growth rate from April 17 to December 31, 2020. The data were collected at the state level. The model controlled for mask mandates, at-risk groups (percentage Hispanic population, percentage essential workers), and percentage health insurance coverage. Results: During the study period, having a water shutoff moratorium in place significantly lowered the COVID-19 infection daily growth rate by 0.235%, and significantly lowered the death growth rate by 0.135%. In addition, a comprehensive moratorium covering all water systems (public and private) significantly lowered the infection growth rate by 0.169%, and significantly lowered the death growth rate by 0.228%. Conclusions: This study raises attention to the importance of water equity, and the need for government actions to create more uniform protections from water shutoffs across all states. A comprehensive approach to water equity can protect the health and safety of all communities.

COVID-19 Vaccination and Racial/Ethnic Inequities in Mortality at Midlife in Minnesota

“…The extent to which findings in Minnesota may resemble those of other states is unclear, particularly because state contexts affect health. 17 , 18 If vaccination rates are generally higher in metropolitan areas than in rural areas, other states with very urban populations of color and large rural White populations may show similar vaccination disparities. At the national level, aggregated over age, the White population is vaccinated at lower rates than all but African American individuals, 19 and in most states, White vaccination is lower than the high average age of White populations would predict.…”

Prioritizing homelessness in emergency medicine education: A concept paper

“…Journal club can be an effective modality to learn from recent publications on disparities of COVID‐19 related to socioeconomic status. In addition to the references above, relevant articles include a case report and public health approach to infection control 31 and the association of housing eviction and public utility moratoria with decreased COVID‐19 incidence and mortality 32,33 …”

“…In addition to the references above, relevant articles include a case report and public health approach to infection control 31 and the association of housing eviction and public utility moratoria with decreased COVID‐19 incidence and mortality. 32 , 33 …”

“…In addition to the references above, relevant articles include a case report and public health approach to infection control 31 and the association of housing eviction and public utility moratoria with decreased COVID-19 incidence and mortality. 32,33 LGBTQIA+ Persons who identify as LGBTQIA+ are disproportionately affected by homelessness. Estimated data indicate that 20%-40% of…”

Planning for FEWsheds: The Role of Planning in Integrating and Strengthening Food, Energy and Water Systems

“…Related delinquencies in payments have led to mass water shutoffs by utilities, which in 2016 placed 15 million Americans without access to piped water (Swain, McKinney and Susskind 2020). A recent study finds that states that adopted a moratorium on water shutoffs had a lower spread of COVID and related deaths relative to states that did not place moratoria (Zhang, Warner and Grant 2021). In a review, VanDerSlice (2011) notes that very few studies explicitly address demographic characteristics of communities in relation to water quality or supply, thereby failing to point out and subsequently correct for inequities.…”