Influences of reopening businesses and social venues: COVID-19 incidence rate in East Texas county. (18th January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Le, Tuan D.; Bosworth, Michele; Ledlow, Gerald; Le, Tony T.; Bell, Jeffrey; Singh, Karan P.
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 149(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01-18
• Subjects: COVID-19, -- economic reopening, -- rural health, -- SARS-CoV-2; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268821000121
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: As the on-going severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic, we aimed to understand whether economic reopening (EROP) significantly influenced coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) incidence. COVID-19 data from Texas Health and Human Services between March and August 2020 were analysed. COVID-19 incidence rate (cases per 100 000 population) was compared to statewide for selected urban and rural counties. We used joinpoint regression analysis to identify changes in trends of COVID-19 incidence and interrupted time-series analyses for potential impact of state EROP orders on COVID-19 incidence. We found that the incidence rate increased to 145.1% (95% CI 8.4–454.5%) through 4th April, decreased by 15.5% (95% CI −24.4 −5.9%) between 5th April and 30th May, increased by 93.1% (95% CI 60.9–131.8%) between 31st May and 11th July and decreased by 13.2% (95% CI −22.2 −3.2%) after 12 July 2020. The study demonstrates the EROP policies significantly impacted trends in COVID-19 incidence rates and accounted for increases of 129.9 and 164.6 cases per 100 000 populations for the 24- or 17-week model, respectively, along with other county and state reopening ordinances. The incidence rate decreased sharply after 12th July considering the emphasis on a facemask or covering requirement in business and social settings.