NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

As we cross a grim milestone for COVID-19 deaths, America is getting back to business; but the road to re-opening diverges depending on where you live. Unlike countries, such as Germany, South Korea or New Zealand—models of nationally coordinated COVID-19 responses— the U.S. has been a patchwork of decisions. How each state responded to the first wave of the outbreak during the critical March-May period— their “COVID-reflex”— and their preparedness for keeping residents in remote mode— their “digital reflex”— offer important clues to which regions ought to be on a watch-out list for future waves.

Our Digital Planet team analyzed the 50 states in the U.S. along these critical measures. Learn the results of this essential research for timely action and how it can be used to give policymakers, business leaders and innovators a sense of the future path of COVID-19 in the U.S., its ultimate economic impact, and what needs to be done next. We shall explore the differences between the coastal and the heartland states, essential vulnerabilities in areas ranging from remote working, distributing stimulus relief and sustaining America’s food supply, and what actions need to be taken next.

Time: 11 am ET