A reader had sent me yesterday's death totals by HudCo municipality issued by the County- they are a snapshot in time. Unfortunately, coronavirus deaths will continue to rise, and today's numbers will be higher across the board. That said, this snapshot provides some insight into how COVID-19 mitigation policies are working in different municipalities.
It was Hoboken out of the gate first with aggressive COVID-19 mitigation policies- our governor lagged a week or two behind. Our City was first with a 10 pm curfew, then closed bars, then closed "non-essential businesses," ordered restaurants to serve take-out only, then shut the waterfront parks, then closed all parks (resisting pressure to close Sinatra Drive for public use as an "exercise space"), then ordered anyone serving the public to wear masks, then finally asked the general public to wear masks/face covers outdoors.
Note, some on the Council pushed back on these policies at various junctures, then some ran to the press accusing the Mayor of neglecting one demographic above others. Good luck with that.
A snapshot of the April 16, 2020 total deaths per Hudson County municipality, shows the death rate by population is the lowest in the City of Hoboken.
In other words, this snapshot shows that Hoboken's early aggressive mitigation policies appear to have 'flattened the curve.'
Note, the available census data is from 2010.Hoboken's population and population density have likely increased since 2010, as well as for other Hudson County municipalities. One may or may not assume the rate of population growth is similar in each HudCo municipality- please FILL OUT YOUR 2020 CENSUS.
For consideration: many factors impact the spread and death rate of COVID-19, a highly infectious virus. We know that population density is favorable to its spread by asymptomatic infected persons. We know that African American and Hispanics seem to be more susceptible and their death rates exceed that of whites. We know that death rate in senior citizens is dramatically higher for all demographic groups; some municipalities have an 'older' population. We know all of that, which all factors in to coronavirus mortality.
CONCLUSION
GA's conclusion from this single 4/16/2020 snapshot:
- Social distancing is working
- Wearing face-covers is working
- Blocking areas where the public congregates (parks, waterfront) is working
- Timeliness of COVID-19 mitigation policies saves lives.
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