Are spatial patterns of Covid-19 changing? Spatiotemporal analysis over four waves in the region of Cantabria, Spain

Autores de IDIVAL

• 

  Olga De Cos Guerra

  Autor

  olga.decos@unican.es

• 

  Valentín Castillo Salcines

  Autor

  valentin.castillo@unican.es

• 

  David Cantarero Prieto

  Autor

  david.cantarero@unican.es

Abstract

This research approaches the empirical study of the pandemic from a social science perspective. The main goal is to reveal spatiotemporal changes in Covid-19, at regional scale, using GIS technologies and the emerging three-dimensional bins method. We analyze a case study of the region of Cantabria (northern Spain) based on 29,288 geocoded positive Covid-19 cases in the four waves from the outset in March 2020 to June 2021. Our results suggest three main spatial processes: a reversal in the spatial trend, spreading first followed by contraction in the third and fourth waves; then the reduction of hot spots that represent problematic areas because of high presence of cases and growing trends; and finally, an increase in cold spots. All this generates relevant knowledge to help policy-makers from regional governments to design efficient containment and mitigation strategies. Our research is conducted from a geoprevention perspective, based on the application of targeted measures depending on spatial patterns of Covid-19 in real time. It represents an opportunity to reduce the socioeconomic impact of global containment measures in pandemic management.

© 2022 The Authors. Transactions in GIS published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Proyectos asociados

• Test de estrés o resistencia en el Sistema Cantabro de Salud, desarrollo de tecnologias innovadoras digitales para modelizar escenarios de mayor utilización sanitaria y soluciones de impacto socioeconómico y humano frente a la COVID-19