U.S. county level analysis to determine If social distancing slowed the spread of COVID-19

U.S. county level analysis to determine If social distancing slowed the spread of COVID-19

Tannista Banerjee, Arnab Nayak

Objective. To analyze the effectiveness of social distancing in the United States (U.S.). Methods. A novel cell-phone ping data was used to quantify the measures of social distancing by all U.S. counties. Results. Using a difference-in-difference approach results show that social distancing has been effective in slowing the spread of COVID-19. Conclusions. As policymakers face the very difficult question of the necessity and effectiveness of social distancing across the U.S., counties where the policies have been imposed have effectively increased social distancing and have seen slowing the spread of COVID-19. These results might help policymakers to make the public understand the risks and benefits of the lockdown.

2020

coronavirus, United States, quarantine, pandemics, Behavior, social

10.26633/RPSP.2020.90

Revista Panamericana de Salud Pública

Pan American Health Organization

Medicine, Public aspects of medicine, Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine