Topline
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine has found that states with Democratic governors had lower Covid-19 spread than those with Republican governors. This is due to stricter public health measures. Researchers said this underscores the politicization of Covid-19 restrictions and why health professionals should take the lead.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis removes his mask at a press conference held in Miami Gardens on May 6, 2020.... Getty Images
The Key Facts
Researchers at Binghamton University led the peer-reviewed research that established a Public Health Protective Policy Index. This index measures the severity of state public health policies. It also analyzes those findings in relation with states Covid-19 transmission, and governors' partisan affiliation. Researchers looked at Covid-19 policies and rates between March 2019 and November 2020. They also examined when particular states Covid-19 cases peaked. The average PPI for Democratic-led states was 10 points higher than that of states with GOP governors. However, the study also notes that some Republican-led states, such as Maryland, Vermont, and Massachusetts, had more stringent measures that were closer in line with the Democratic states. A 10-point increase in the expected number new cases was associated with a 10 point difference in PPI. This means that the spread of Covid-19 in Democratic-led states was lower than in Republican-led ones, due to the stricter measures they had in place. The study's model showed that New York's cases at the beginning of the pandemic would have been higher, and peak in May 2020 rather than April if the state had not placed strict restrictions. According to the study's authors, their findings showed that public health measures were being politicized. It could have been beneficial for health professionals to make decisions about these policies rather than politicians.
Important Quote
According to Olga Shvetsova (a political science professor at Binghamton University State University of New York), the main conclusion of the research is that public health needs a less partisan approach when making public health policy decisions.
Chief Critic
Republican governors have stood by their non-interventionist approach to Covid-19 restrictions. They claim that measures such as lockdowns or mask mandates are not justified violations of freedoms. Florida Governor. Ron DeSantis stated in August that Florida was facing a huge Covid-19 spike. It is dangerous. Its disruptive. It doesn't work.
Important Background
This study by Binghamton is consistent with other studies that show the effectiveness of Covid-19 mitigation strategies like mask mandates or stay-at-home instructions. A previous study published in the AJPM also found that GOP states have more lax restrictions and higher Covid-19 metrics. Covid-19 measures such as lockdowns or mask mandates were politicized during the pandemic. Many Republican governors have lifted restrictions and banned local governments from imposing them. Republicans are also the most likely to reject the Covid-19 vaccines. This has led to a number conservative-led states that have lower vaccination rates being more severely affected by the recently encroaching highly infectious delta variant.
Continue reading
Governor's Party, Policies and COVID-19 Results: Additional Evidence of an Effect (American Journal of Preventative Medicine).
Study: GOP Governors Reduce Restrictions
A new CDC mask guidance is being issued by the Delta-Fueled Covid Surge. Here are the states where mandatory masks cannot be legally reimposed (Forbes).
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