The coronavirus is rapidly spreading across the United States and has infected more than 1,000 people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided guidance on the virus which includes proper hygiene protocols, staying away from large crowds, quarantining yourself if you’re sick, and to work from home. While this is helpful information and is intended to reduce the spread of the virus, it not only impacts the economy but also low-income people and those who don’t have the ability to quarantine themselves or work from home.

Currently, the United States House of Representatives is working to pass legislation that is intended to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus. This piece of legislation includes expanding assistance such as paid sick leave, unemployment benefits, and food assistance for low-income people.

It’s hard to imagine how this will impact people and their communities, particularly those that are unable to work from home or those that do become infected and need to be quarantined. In thinking about some of the assistance that legislatures are putting forward, what are your thoughts around these additional measures? Do you think they will work? What might be missing?  How is this pandemic impacting your community, and impacting you?

Read more on how the coronavirus may disproportionately impact the poor >>

Interested in learning more about social determinants and health and the coronavirus? Join The Coronavirus: An Unfolding Case Study on the Need for a Public Health SDOH Agenda webinar on Friday, March 13 at noon ET.