Study gives Nebraska an A-plus for COVID-19 response

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The National Bureau of Economic Research gave Nebraska an A-plus grade for the state’s pandemic response.

States were given rankings based on how effective their policies were in containing COVID-19 while also “minimizing the negative effects of lockdown strategies on businesses and children.”

The states’ report card examined three variables: health outcomes, economic performance throughout the pandemic and impact on education.

Nebraska was ranked second nationally overall behind Utah, according to the bureau’s report.

“We avoided mask mandates, vaccine passports, and lockdowns, and instead trusted the good sense of Nebraskans to do the right thing,” Gov. Pete Ricketts said.  “Our pandemic approach helped slowed the spread of the virus to protect hospitals.  At the same time, it provided students the opportunity for in-person learning, gave businesses the freedom to serve customers, and allowed people to stay connected in our communities.”

For the health outcome ranking, researchers adjusted the rate of COVID-19 deaths to account for some states having a higher or lower than average share of elderly residents.

“To further adjust these numbers for substantial differences in metabolic health across states,” they also adjusted deaths by the prevalence obesity and diabetes, “the conditions most strongly correlated with COVID-associated deaths,” according to the report.

Essentially, these adjustments made each state’s share of elderly residents and prevalence of obesity and diabetes the same as the national average.

With these adjustments, Nebraska had the 11th-lowest mortality rate. Vermont, another A+ state, had the 2nd-lowest.