Relationship between Built Environment and COVID-19 Dispersal Based on Age Stratification: A Case Study of Wuhan

Qiang Niu, Wanxian Wu, Jie Shen, Jiaxin Huang and Qiling Zhou
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Qiang Niu: School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Wanxian Wu: School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
Jie Shen: School of Urban Construction, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430072, China
Jiaxin Huang: School of Urban Construction, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430072, China
Qiling Zhou: School of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: The outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) has become the focus of attention in the field of urban geography. Built environment, such as the layout of public spaces like transportation hubs and urban open spaces, is an important factor affecting the spread of the epidemic. However, due to the different behavior patterns of different age groups, the intensity and frequency of their use of various built environment spaces may vary. Based on this, we selected patients that were infected, with a non-manipulated time period, and the classification of human behavior patterns; we then conducted a regression analysis study on the spatial distribution and building environment of these COVID-19 patients. The results showed that the spatial distribution of young and middle-aged patients (18–59 years old) was more homogeneous, while the spatial distribution of elderly patients (60 years old and above) had a strong clustering characteristic. Moreover, the significant built environment factors exhibited in the two populations were extremely different. More diverse urban facilities and public spaces exhibited influential properties for older patients, while middle-aged and young adults were more influenced by commuting facilities. It can be said that the built environment shows different influences and mechanisms on the transmission of respiratory infectious diseases in different populations. Therefore, the results of this paper can inform decision makers who expect to reduce the occurrence of urban respiratory infectious diseases by improving the urban built environment.

Keywords: COVID-19; built environment; young and middle-aged; elderly; Wuhan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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