Uncovering heterogeneous inequities induced by COVID-19 interventions: Evidence from three states in the U.S.

Abstract

The debate surrounding the efficacy of the interventions stipulated at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging. Specifically, there are mixed reactions to the success of the interventions. Even when the response strategies were deemed satisfactory, there were still lingering perceptions of inherent systemic failures due to the inequity of the seeming success. The objective of this paper is to reconcile these tensions by examining the heterogeneous impacts of stipulated interventions in the U.S. The examination employs the widely regarded simulation platform, COVASIM, to examine the equity implications of the prescribed interventions. A tailored Gini coefficient is used to evaluate the impact of the interventions with respect to the equitable distribution of healthcare resources that underscore the interventions. The findings indicate that there were inequities in the delivery of the interventions. Furthermore, the examination shows that the efficacy of the interventions has a different distribution across different subgroups and also by location such that the inequities were more profound across minority-populated locations. The disparities in the interventions across age, gender, and racial subgroups translated into the disproportionate count of cases and mortality. These findings provide guidance for future pandemic policies, highlighting that a one-size-fits-all approach is suboptimal. Tailored interventions for different population categories are necessary to achieve equitable success and minimize cases and fatalities.