Report spotlights inequalities in COVID-related restrictions
COVID-related mobility restrictions such as stay-at-home orders had disproportionate burdens on women, minorities, and lower-income populations, according to a study yesterday in
JAMA Network Open.
On average, 90,692.8 US adults answered a weekly survey from Apr 23 to Jul 21, 2020, reporting how they thought the COVID-19 pandemic affected their well-being. Mean mobility reduction was 24.8%, and every 10% reduction was associated with higher odds of unemployment (odds ratio [OR], 1.3), food insufficiency (OR, 1.1), mental health problems (OR, 1.04), and class cancellations with no alternative (OR, 1.1). The other two well-being metrics, inaccessibility to medical care and defaulting on the previous month's home mortgage/rent payment, were not linked with mobility reduction.