Release Notes: COVID-19 U.S. State by State Infographic – June 29, 2020
Document Link: Pier Digital COVID-19 Info Project V16.pdf
Over the weekend there were more cases of states that have been experiencing second waves reversing course on reopening, like North Carolina did last week. The three most noteworthy examples, in my opinion, are Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, and I’ll touch on each of their policies.
Texas in Florida are a lot alike in terms of the current Covid situation. They’re without a doubt the two hardest-hit states since Memorial Day, and they both have governors who have strongly resisted calls to implement additional measures since lifting their original lockdowns. Texas has frozen its reopening in place, like North Carolina. Florida has shut down most beaches, and may close additional businesses (including salons and massage parlors) in the week ahead should the situation call for it.
Despite the similarities between Florida and Texas, it’s interesting that Florida has rolled back reopening whereas Texas has simply paused it. I believe the reason for this has to do with political capital. The governor of Texas has opposed reinstituting earlier restrictions, and most likely doesn’t want to appear to renege on that. Florida, on the other hand, seems to have decided that this is a sacrifice worth making in the interest of public health.
Louisiana has also elected to roll back measures (in this case, reimposing a public gathering limit based on venue capacity) rather than freeze them. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that New Orleans was hit very hard early in the pandemic, so Louisianans understand what’s at stake. As a result, I imagine this is a safer decision politically, in addition to probably being best for the state. Through previous analysis, I think it has become pretty clear that the strictness of lockdown and distancing measures is the strongest factor in how the virus spreads.
It will be interesting to see where each of these paths take their respective states going forward, relative to each other. It will also be worth watching how these measures may set them apart from states who are slower to close, if at all. In any case, the consensus is clearly growing that containment is key, and I suspect that by this time next week, the infographic will contain considerably more red boxes than it does right now.
