Mask mandates and other lockdown policies reduced the spread of COVID-19 in the US

Jul 23, 2020

Disney Springs shoppers wear face masks and Disney-themed clothing while Walt Disney World conducts a phased reopening from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, U.S. July 11, 2020. REUTERS/Octavio Jones - RC28RH91SW04

An earlier mask mandate could have saved thousands of lives. Image: REUTERS/Octavio Jones

Paul Schrimpf

Associate Professor, Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia

Hiro Kasahara

Professor, Vancouver School of Economics, University of British Columbia

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Notes: W denotes confounders, I information, P policy, B behaviour, all realised in that sequence by the time t in state i; Y denotes outcomes realised at future date t+l.Notes: W denotes confounders, I information, P policy, B behaviour, all realised in that sequence by the time t in state i; Y denotes outcomes realised at future date t+l.

Notes: The figure shows the dynamics of the intensity of visits to ‘workplaces’ from Google Mobility Reports, which shows the sudden drop in the last two weeks of March.

Notes: The figure shows the portion of states with closed schools, which slightly leads the mobility drop in Figure 6.

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