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Research Assistants

Business Restrictions and COVID Fatalities

Since March 2020, state and county governments in the US have introduced a variety of policies to reduce virus transmission and deaths. These include: stay-at-home orders; general business closures; specific closures targeting bars, restaurants, gyms and spas; visitation policies at nursing homes; mandatory mask orders; park and beach closures; and limits on the size of gatherings. Which of these help curb fatality growth?

We are looking for research assistants to gather data on county and state-level business and related restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19. The work requires on-going and detailed reading of Governor and County Commissioner orders, news outlets, and other sources available on the web. The main goal of the RA work is to determine whether and when various restrictions are imposed and lifted by regulators (for example, when restaurants were banned from indoor seating or when indoor capacity was set at 50% for gyms) for all 3,000+ counties in the U.S. and to provide the relevant links to the source(s) of any information entered into the database. Because the situation continues to evolve, RAs need to consistently monitor and document changing regulations.

Requisite Skills and Qualifications:
 

The work requires a large number of web searches and on-going monitoring of statements released by state and local governments as well as public health authorities. No programming skills are required, but a very high level of attention to detail is crucial. An interest in business and health policy is also helpful! Be forewarned, a lot of the work is boring. Really, really boring! Reading government orders is just not very exciting. Unless you think you can plow through them all summer long, you should not apply for this position. This is start to a typical order:

WHEREAS, County of Franklin, Missouri, is being impacted by the worldwide spread of COVID-19 which may, in time,
impact the County; and

WHEREAS, the President of the United States and the governor of the State of Missouri, have both declared States of
Emergency; and

WHEREAS, on March, 17, 2020 the County Commission of the County of Franklin, Missouri adopted Commission Order
2020-123 declaring a State of Emergency in the County of Franklin, Missouri effective 6:00 p.m. on March 17, 2020 and
remaining in effect until 12:00 noon on April 17, 2020; and

WHEREAS, it is likely the disease will eventually spread in Franklin County; and