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A Tale of Two States

Posted on by aciriello

A Tale of Two States

Much has been made recently on how some states have contained their Coronavirus outbreaks, while others have seen spikes.  Most of these spikes are attributed to poor decisions by leadership around their re-opening policy and use of masks.  In addition, statistics indicate accelerated re-opening plans have backfired, with increasing cases and deaths from relaxed protocols and pullbacks on re-opening plans. Below is a comparison of Massachusetts and Texas, states with differing political backgrounds, various shutdown and reopening methods.  I’ve provided background and key points as to why Massachusetts’ leadership decisions appear to contain the virus better than Texas.

 

National Political Background: According to https://www.270towin.com/states/,

in Presidential elections since 1972, Texas has voted Republican in 11 of 12 times and Massachusetts has voted Democratic 10 of 12 times.  In the US senate since then, only 21 percent of possible years (20 of 96 years) were served by democrats in Texas.  In Massachusetts, under nine percent, (9 of 96 years) were served by Republicans. It’s a fair conclusion that, nationally, recent history shows Texas leans red, while Massachusetts leans blue.

 

Coronavirus responsehigh profile items:

Stay at Home Reopening Masks Directive Indoor Dining (limited) Religious Services
Abbott (R, TX)

April 2

 

May 1

 

 July 2 June 22 May 1
Baker (R, MA)

March 24

 

May 18

 

 May 6 June 29 May 25

 

Additional statistics from CDC.gov as of July 15, 2020:

Texas Massachusetts
Total Cases 275,058 105,986
Deaths/100K people 11.6 120.8

 

REOPENING HIGHLIGHTS:

Texas1 Massachusetts2
Phase 1

Limited retail stores, restaurants, movie theaters, museums, libraries, and malls.  Churches remain open.

 

 

 Broken up into three separate weekly openings. Limited religious services
Phase II Restaurants to 50%, child care, personal care, rodeos, bars, youth camps, youth sports, aquariums, zoos, bowling alleys, bingo halls

Limited retail, restaurants, hotels, and recreational activities.  Less urgent preventative health.

 
Phase III

All businesses will be able to operate up to 50% capacity. Business that previously at 100% capacity may continue.  Restaurants to 75%, bars, amusement parks to 50%.

 

 Bars, casinos, gyms, museums, youth sports.  No nightclubs or large venues
Phase IV Paused at Phase III on June 25, but businesses can continue to operate at current levels

Effective upon the development of vaccines and treatment. Full resumption of activity in the “new normal,”

 
Of note:

As of July 2, 2020, all Texans to wear a face covering in public spaces, in counties with 20 or more positive COVID-19 cases

 

 Maintain social distancing and wear face coverings in public throughout all phases.  Over 65 or those with pre-existing health conditions still in stay at home mode.  Each phase lasts at least three weeks

 

CONCLUSIONS AND OBSERVATIONS:

Texas data shows they used much shorter phase intervals.  Phase 1 included many higher risk indoor items like indoor dining, movie theaters, and church services. Additionally, a mandatory mask order was not made until July 3. Did Abbott know his state, with views similar to the President, may be less tolerant of a mask order but put his state at great risk?

 

In contrast, Massachusetts was more conservative in its response, closing two weeks earlier and re-opening almost three weeks later.  In addition, policies around masks, indoor dining, and religious services were much stricter. Did Massachusetts’ history of leaning democratic allow it’s Republican Governor’s slower re-opening pace?  Baker’s decisions do seem to meet his goals around containment.

 

Additional Sources:

  1. dshs.state.tx.us/coronavirus/opentexas.aspx
  2. mass.gov/info-details/reopening-massachusetts
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30 Comments

  1. The reason why we are seeing spikes is because of people who don’t follow the guidelines go to those places that are re-opening. You really cant blame the places who are re-opening because they know that they have businesses to run and money to keep flowing in while also having to pay others who need money to live their lives. The rioters who riot during the day around thousands of people and think they can go out and enjoy themselves while not knowing if they have corona or not are the ones who ruin other peoples businesses by bringing in the virus.

  2. It’s really interesting to compare states responses. It’s like we’re living in separate countries at times with the vast cultural differences and the chasm in how the same issue would be handled by different governments. Federalism kind of shows its ugly side this past few months.

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