Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

October 7, 2020

Comparing Associations of State Reopening Strategies with COVID-19 Burden

Category:

Topic:

Keywords (Tags): ,

  • Comparing trends in COVID-19 cases over time between states with differing approaches to mask mandates indicates that mask use and other mitigation measures can counteract increases in COVID-19 cases and deaths in response to reopening of businesses. Based on a interrupted time series quasi-experimental study, in states that reopened indoor dining rooms before implementing a mask mandate, the number of excess cases was 10 times higher after 8 weeks on average and excess deaths from COVID-19 was 5 time higher than in states that reopened with mask mandates in place. The authors also estimate that if all 50 states and the District of Columbia had implemented mask mandates prior to reopening, the excess cases could have been reduced by 90% and excess deaths reduced by 80%.

Kaufman et al. (Oct 6, 2020). Comparing Associations of State Reopening Strategies with COVID-19 Burden. Journal of General Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-020-06277-0