A database introduced this month aggregates state policies that had the goal of mitigating the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. 

The group began working on the Covid-19 U.S. State Policy (CUSP) database “to document the dates and components of economic relief and public health measures issued at the state level” in response to the pandemic. 

JULIA RAIFMAN, jraifman@bu.edu, @JuliaRaifman 
    Raifman is an Assistant Professor of Health Law, Policy and Management at Boston University. She conducts research on population health and health disparities.

The Covid-19 U.S. State Policy database has provided continually updated information documenting the “widespread variation in state policy decisions and implementation dates” across the country. It has also already been used to shape pandemic response.  

Raifman, one of the creators of CUSP, has spoken out in the past about the end to economic pandemic support to families. Raifman told the Institute for Public Accuracy today: “Starting in March 2020, we documented state policies to prevent [Covid-19] and to reduce economic hardship to inform rapid response research and policymaking. Researchers have used [CUSP] to conduct important research on eviction freezes, mask mandates, physical distancing policies, unemployment insurance and minimum wage. We hope the database will be useful for informing further learning about policy impacts in the years ahead, to better prepare us for future outbreaks or crises.”