Partisan differences in physical distancing are linked to health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nat Hum Behav
; 4(11): 1186-1197, 2020 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-899926
ABSTRACT
Numerous polls suggest that COVID-19 is a profoundly partisan issue in the United States. Using the geotracking data of 15 million smartphones per day, we found that US counties that voted for Donald Trump (Republican) over Hillary Clinton (Democrat) in the 2016 presidential election exhibited 14% less physical distancing between March and May 2020. Partisanship was more strongly associated with physical distancing than numerous other factors, including counties' COVID-19 cases, population density, median income, and racial and age demographics. Contrary to our predictions, the observed partisan gap strengthened over time and remained when stay-at-home orders were active. Additionally, county-level consumption of conservative media (Fox News) was related to reduced physical distancing. Finally, the observed partisan differences in distancing were associated with subsequently higher COVID-19 infection and fatality growth rates in pro-Trump counties. Taken together, these data suggest that US citizens' responses to COVID-19 are subject to a deep-and consequential-partisan divide.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Politics
/
Attitude to Health
/
Physical Distancing
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
Nat Hum Behav
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41562-020-00977-7
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