• Am J Prev Med · Feb 2022

    Water Shutoff Moratoria Lowered COVID-19 Infection and Death Across U.S. States.

    • Xue Zhang, Mildred E Warner, and Mary Grant.
    • Department of City and Regional Planning, Cornell AAP Architecture Art Planning, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Department of Global Development, Cornell CALS College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. Electronic address: xz435@cornell.edu.
    • Am J Prev Med. 2022 Feb 1; 62 (2): 149-156.

    IntroductionA total of 34 U.S. state governments imposed moratoria on water shutoffs between March and May 2020 to ensure equitable access to water during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, by the end of 2020, most of these moratoria had expired, and millions of people were exposed to the risk of water disconnections. This study examines the linkage between water equity and public health and provides policy recommendations for improving water access and health equity.MethodsEvent study was used to analyze the impact of a water shutoff moratorium on COVID-19 daily infection growth rate and daily death growth rate from April 17, 2020 to December 31, 2020. The data were collected at the state level. The model controlled for mask mandates, at-risk groups (percentage Hispanic population, percentage essential workers), and percentage health insurance coverage.ResultsDuring the study period, having a water shutoff moratorium in place significantly lowered the COVID-19 infection daily growth rate by 0.235% and significantly lowered the death growth rate by 0.135%. In addition, a comprehensive moratorium covering all water systems (public and private) significantly lowered the infection growth rate by 0.169% and significantly lowered the death growth rate by 0.228%.ConclusionsThis study raises attention to the importance of water equity and the need for government actions to create more uniform protections from water shutoffs across all states. A comprehensive approach to water equity can protect the health and safety of all communities.Copyright © 2021 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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