Influence of urban morphology on COVID-19 transmission in Saudi Arabia: lessons for the post-COVID era.
Urban environments may influence COVID-19 transmission.
To examine how urban form, population size, and density relate to COVID-19 spread in Saudi Arabian cities.
A cross-sectional study of 18 major cities categorized as centralized, linear, or grid-patterned. Data on confirmed cases, population, area, and density were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses.
Total COVID-19 cases strongly correlated with city population size (r = 0.942, p < 0.001) and moderately with cases per density (r = 0.506, p = 0.032). Population density alone was not significant. Centralized cities exhibited higher infection rates than linear or grid-patterned cities.
Population size drives COVID-19 spread, while urban form and connectivity shape local transmission dynamics. Urban planning and targeted interventions in centralized areas can support pandemic mitigation.
To examine how urban form, population size, and density relate to COVID-19 spread in Saudi Arabian cities.
A cross-sectional study of 18 major cities categorized as centralized, linear, or grid-patterned. Data on confirmed cases, population, area, and density were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses.
Total COVID-19 cases strongly correlated with city population size (r = 0.942, p < 0.001) and moderately with cases per density (r = 0.506, p = 0.032). Population density alone was not significant. Centralized cities exhibited higher infection rates than linear or grid-patterned cities.
Population size drives COVID-19 spread, while urban form and connectivity shape local transmission dynamics. Urban planning and targeted interventions in centralized areas can support pandemic mitigation.
Authors
Alumran Alumran, Alumran Alumran, Al-Naim Al-Naim, Alkhoudiri Alkhoudiri, Al Shawan Al Shawan
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