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  • Inside Nebraska's Surprisingly Effective Covid Strategy

    April 22, 2022 |

    Politico |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Nebraska

    Although Nebraska’s governor never ordered a statewide shutdown, shuns mandates, and the state’s vaccination rate is not high, the state has had an efficient and effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nebraska has fared among the best in the country when it comes to health, economic, social, and educational factors. The success is due to a combination of solid pre-existing medical infrastructure, particularly in infectious disease, and efficient state government that allowed the state to function logistically without relying on the federal government.

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  • The dining shed—soon to be banned in NYC—awakened a sense of what's possible with the city street

    March 24, 2022 |

    The Counter |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, New York, New York

    At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, many restaurants in New York City introduced “dining and drinking sheds,” ad-hoc sidewalk structures that allowed patrons to gather outside, where it was generally considered safer. Cities across the country followed suit, reimagining public spaces and their shared use. The spaces also brought customers to businesses that struggled to stay afloat during pandemic fears and shutdowns.

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  • One of the World's Poorest Countries Found a Better Way to Do Stimulus

    November 07, 2021 |

    Bloomberg Businessweek |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Togo

    An all-digital system delivered monthly payments to millions of Togolese people in need during the coronavirus. The platform, built in two weeks, immediately verifies applicants’ eligibility and instantly sends a text message with electronic funds. The program’s rollout began with monthly stipends to in need around Lomé and has slowly expanded to other groups. Most recently, researchers used algorithms using satellite images to first identify impoverished communities based on their layout and housing materials and then used mobile phone data to identify the poorest individuals within those regions.

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  • Hounslow £20 vouchers bring new customers to Chiswick shops

    November 01, 2021 |

    The Chiswick Calendar |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: United Kingdom, Hounslow

    The Hounslow council sent £20 vouchers to every household to help the local economy recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Households had about two months to spend the voucher, which could purchase products or services at a range of businesses from cafes and cinemas to retailers and laundromats. Retailers can use an app to scan the vouchers and eventually redeem them for payments.

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  • How France Overcame Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy

    September 27, 2021 |

    Wall Street Journal |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: France

    A mixture of mandates and incentives helped France overcome vaccine hesitancy and encouraged millions to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The government campaign was so successful that some of the restrictions – like the requirement to show a health pass with vaccine status or recent test results before entering public spaces, like a restaurant or train- might soon be eased. Other mandates included requiring masks at primary schools and vaccination for health care workers, with those refusing to face suspension. The health pass requirement is credited with avoiding mass shutdowns again as the delta variant spreads.

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  • Tourism in time of pandemic. How the Safar Project opened minds and borders

    July 19, 2021 |

    News48 |

    Text |

    1500-3000 Words

    Response Location: Italy

    An Italian travel writer and a publishing house partnered to recreate the experience of travel to new places, providing tourists with a virtual experience and tour guides with a source of income to replace their lost businesses when the pandemic shut down actual travel. Called the Safar project (Arabic for travel), the service charges 15 euros for one and a half hour Zoom tours featuring live explanations and interactions with local people, limited only by time zones and cellular reception. An average of 50 tourists have signed on with the seven tour guides who have been recruited so far.

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  • Using satellite photos to help distribute cash

    March 16, 2021 |

    BBC |

    Podcast |

    Over 15 Minutes

    Response Location: Togo

    Togo distributed money to people in need, including informal sector workers, by identifying them using machine learning. Algorithms search satellite photos for clues of poverty, using measures like building density, and individuals within those areas are found using mobile phone data as a proxy of their wealth. Media campaigns also encourage people to apply for assistance. Once eligibility is confirmed, the first of five monthly payments is instantly sent to their phone and can be collected at local pick-up points. People without mobile phones can use an inexpensive SIM card in a borrowed phone.

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  • The inside story of how Pennsylvania failed to deliver millions in coronavirus rent relief

    February 15, 2021 |

    Spotlight PA |

    Text |

    Over 3000 Words

    Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

    When Pennsylvania's coronavirus rent relief program rolled out during the first few months of the pandemic, it failed to help many due to strict deadlines, poor information management, a payment cap, and overall procedural limitations. Now, the state is "getting a second chance," and has made modifications to the program in an attempt to avoid the failures of the last round.

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  • Covid-Certified Businesses Try to Woo Leery Patrons

    February 04, 2021 |

    Kaiser Health News |

    Text |

    800-1500 Words

    Response Location: United States, Grand Junction, Colorado

    Colorado counties have launched "The 5-star Certification Program" as a way to incintivize businesses to comply with COVID-related precautions. Businesses that join the program must agree to adhere to certain public health protocols, and in return they are held to less stringent rules that those who are not part of the program. Although it is yet to be seen if this is an effective method to slow the spread of the virus, the program has spread to other states as a way of avoiding economic devastation.

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  • Some NC rent relief recipients have no 'HOPE' of using money

    December 10, 2020 |

    WCNC-TV |

    Broadcast TV News |

    Under 3 Minutes

    Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

    North Carolina's rent-relief program, Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE), has helped 3,000 families pay their rent and utilities. But the program's reach has been cut short by some landlords' refusal to accept the government aid because it comes with a required eviction ban and a cap on rent increases. The program pays up to six months' rent. Charlotte officials are debating a measure that would block landlords from discriminating based on the source of money used to pay rent.

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