Addressing Differential Impacts of Covid-19 in NYS: COVID-19, Technology, and the Digital Divide: Implications for NYS

Abstract

Technology rapidly became a necessity during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic amid social distancing strategies such as New York State on Pause, broadband wireless and internet-based technologies became critical lifelines. These lifelines enabled citizens to maintain some semblance of normalcy with work, education, access to healthcare, and other daily activities - albeit online. While technology was a necessity during this time, the pre-existing digital divide issues (among others) may have further marginalized, underrepresented populations during the pandemic. This chapter summarizes the efforts of the Technological Innovation amid COVID-19 Working Group and poses questions regarding the potential secondary impacts of the pandemic on racial and ethnic minority groups in New York State. The workgroup was convened in 2020 and has since had over 15 publications (journal articles, commentaries, conference papers, books, and book chapters) related to the impacts and use of technology during COVID. The meta-analysis considers broadband wireless technology as a super social determinant of health, crossing all health domains. Using a modified ecology theory framework, the conclusions are presented across the five domains of influence focused on the implications for New York State.