Work

Public health infrastructure and COVID-19 spread: An air transportation network analysis

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: This study examines the effectiveness of public health infrastructure, specifically hospital and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacities, in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 in various US counties. We use the air transportation network to quantify the risk of importing COVID-19-infected passengers to a given county in the United States. Utilizing a dataset that encompasses COVID-19 case rates, healthcare resources, and socioeconomic and transportation-related variables across multiple destination counties, we found that increased availability of hospital and ICU beds is statistically significantly associated with a reduced risk of COVID-19 spread, after controlling for origin county infection rates, travel patterns, and socioeconomic factors. These findings underline the critical role of robust healthcare infrastructure in public health crisis management and suggest targeted policy interventions to bolster healthcare capacity as a viable strategy for mitigating pandemic impacts.

Source: Journal of the Air Transport Research Society

DOI: 10.1016/j.jatrs.2024.100040

Author: Jules Yimga

Institutions: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Prescott Arizona Campus, Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University

Language: English

Topic: COVID-19 epidemiological studies

Subfield: Modeling and Simulation

Field: Mathematics

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Sustainable cities and communities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $1,600