The study’s damning conclusion: “The evidence suggests that ineffective national policies and responses, especially as compared to those of other wealthy nations or compared to the intricate preparation and planning by previous administrations of both parties, have been driving the terrible toll of COVID-19 and its inequities in the U.S.”
Failure to use federal authority and budget to supply PPE.Eight months into the pandemic, over 80% of U.S.nurses reportthey are still reusing at least one type of single-use PPE,
Failure to require “mandatory universal paid sick leave for those unable to work due to COVID-19.”TheFamilies First Coronavirus Response Actprovides for some COVID-related leave, including family and medical leave, but it does not cover most federal employees or apply to employers with more than 500 employees.
Failure to mandate “standards for occupational exposures.”Such standards turn out to be extremely important: The researchers discovered that the volume of worker complaints to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration raising concerns about workplace conditions and exposure to COVID-19 are an excellent predictor of COVID-19 deaths 16 days later.
