05/12/2020

MIT Researchers Weigh the Risks in Study on Reopening Guidelines

Understanding the risk/reward ratio of reopening different types of businesses

As governors and other political leaders make decisions about how to reopen their economies amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they’re asking: What should open first, next, and last? How should the risks of spreading the infection be balanced with the benefits of resuming commerce?

An analysis by researchers at the MIT Sloan School of Management is intended to provide decision-makers with some data-driven guidance. It may also help associations understand the risks and benefits involved in reopening their industries.

In the report, titled ‌Rationing Social Contact During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Transmission Risk and Social Benefits of U.S. Locations, authors Seth G. Benzell, Avinash Collis and Christos Nicolaides relied on a variety of sources, including government statistics, consumer preference surveys and smartphone location data. The authors compared around 30 different settings, including fast-service restaurants, museums and grocery stores.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Associations Now.