In editorials revealed within the spring on the Brookings web site and in NextCity, a nonprofit information group, Dr. Loh and her co-authors have argued that a few of the very traits that may make cities extra harmful throughout a pandemic, like inhabitants density, can even make them extra advantageous ought to a pandemic take maintain.
Populous city areas and cities might supply bigger security nets than rural areas, Dr. Loh mentioned. New York Metropolis, for instance, has plentiful hospitals, specialists, gear and sources for coronavirus testing.
Cities additionally have a tendency to supply a bigger number of social assist providers, mentioned Jenifer E. Allsworth, an epidemiologist on the College of Missouri-Kansas Metropolis, together with varied baby care and public transportation choices. (To date, mass transit doesn’t appear to considerably contribute to the unfold of the coronavirus, offered there’s satisfactory air flow and riders put on masks.) And cities are inclined to have extra supply choices for of every kind of things together with meals, drugs and family provides.
It’s additionally simpler for small companies like eating places to make use of supply providers to remain afloat when there are extra potential clients per sq. mile, a boon to metropolis residents who both personal these companies or rely on them. And cities are inclined to have extra employment alternatives than do rural areas, Dr. Loh mentioned.
“City areas are extra resilient as a result of they’ve extra diversified economies,” she added.
The way you (and your neighborhood) behave is extra necessary than the place you reside.
In the long run, each professional agreed that relating to decreasing the chance of getting sick, conduct is extra necessary than location.
“This virus is relentless and it’ll search out anybody who ignores social distancing practices,” mentioned Dr. Lee W. Riley, a professor of infectious illness on the Faculty of Public Well being on the College of California, Berkeley. “So it’s not essentially the kind of area the place individuals reside, however the kind of conduct that folks interact of their areas that finally determines who will get contaminated.”
New York Metropolis was capable of beat again the virus within the late spring and summer time months by implementing crucial public well being measures like shutting down nonessential companies, adopting masks sporting and inspiring social distancing. Different areas that took no such precautions, like components of the South and Higher Midwest, noticed large surges.
