Extreme Heat and COVID-19 in New York City: An Evaluation of a Large Air Conditioner Distribution Program to Address Compounded Public Health Risks in Summer 2020.

ABSTRACT: In summer 2020, New York City (NYC) implemented a free air conditioner (AC) distribution program in response to the threats of extreme heat and COVID-19. The program distributed and installed ACs in the homes of nearly 73,000 older, low-income residents of public and private housing. To evaluate the program's impact, survey data were collected from October 2020 to February 2021 via mail and online from 1447 program participants and 902 non-participating low-income NYC adults without AC as a comparison group. Data were examined by calculating frequencies, proportions, and logistic regression models. Participants were 3 times more likely to report staying home during hot weather in summer 2020 compared to non-participants (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.2,

SUBMITTER: Lane K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9910776 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature