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Throwing caution to the wind: How hurricanes affect COVID‐19 spread

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  • Marlon Tracey
  • Alicia Plemmons
  • Ariel Belasen

Abstract

This study exploits the pathway of Hurricane Laura to assess its impact on the spread of COVID‐19. Using US hospital data on confirmed and suspected adult COVID‐19 cases, we find average daily cases per week rose by more than 12% primarily in tropical storm‐affected counties in subsequent weeks. We suspect the key mechanisms involve constraints on social distancing for two reasons. First, there is significant evidence of storm‐induced mobility. Second, lower income areas endured higher growth in hospital cases during the post‐hurricane period. These findings provide crucial insights for policy‐makers when designing natural disaster protocols to adjust for potential respiratory viral illnesses.

Suggested Citation

  • Marlon Tracey & Alicia Plemmons & Ariel Belasen, 2022. "Throwing caution to the wind: How hurricanes affect COVID‐19 spread," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(6), pages 1258-1265, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:hlthec:v:31:y:2022:i:6:p:1258-1265
    DOI: 10.1002/hec.4499
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    1. Alexander Ahammer & Martin Halla & Mario Lackner, 2020. "Mass Gatherings Contributed to Early COVID-19 Mortality: Evidence from US Sports," Economics working papers 2020-13, Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.
    2. Karaivanov, Alexander & Lu, Shih En & Shigeoka, Hitoshi & Chen, Cong & Pamplona, Stephanie, 2021. "Face masks, public policies and slowing the spread of COVID-19: Evidence from Canada," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
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    4. Alexander Ahammer & Martin Halla & Mario Lackner, 2023. "Mass gatherings contributed to early COVID‐19 mortality: Evidence from US sports," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 41(3), pages 471-488, July.
    5. Chernozhukov, Victor & Kasahara, Hiroyuki & Schrimpf, Paul, 2021. "Causal impact of masks, policies, behavior on early covid-19 pandemic in the U.S," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 220(1), pages 23-62.
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