Spatial epidemiology of COVID-19 in Ohio during the early stage of the pandemic

Keywords: Spatial Epidemiology, High Risk, Healthcare Infrastructure, Public Health
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic represents a global public health emergency unparalleled in recent history. Respiratory infections, including COVID-19, have substantial geographical variation in intensity and range of transmission induced by uneven distribution of vulnerable populations and risk factors that facilitate (or hamper) the spatial dispersion of the pathogen. Understanding the local variation in disease transmission dynamics under heterogeneous geospatial attributes is a vital step in understanding the natural dynamics of the disease, and for developing more effective strategies for mitigating risk of infection in vulnerable communities. Ohio, U.S., is a state with marked variation of demographic and geographic attributes among counties along with substantial differences in the capacity of healthcare within the state. In this study, we aimed to identify the geospatial variation of the spread of COVID-19 in Ohio during the early stage of the pandemic, and the impact of the differential spatiotemporal dynamics of the disease in the uneven critical healthcare capacity of the state. We explored the social gradient of health and environment in which most deprived groups are highly vulnerable to more severe health outcomes in the current COVID-19 pandemic. Geospatial results highlighted the importance of the development of strategies targeting the vulnerable high-risk communities.