ABSTRACT

This study aims to examine the spatially varying relationships between social vulnerability factors and COVID-19 cases and deaths in the contiguous United States. County-level COVID-19 data and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention social vulnerability index (SVI) dataset were analyzed using local Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results suggested that SVI and four social vulnerability themes have spatially varying relationships with COVID-19 cases and deaths, which means spatial heterogeneity is an essential factor that influences the relationship, and the strength of association varies significantly across counties. County hot spots that were subject to all four social vulnerability themes during the pandemic were also identified. Local communities and health authorities should pay immediate attention to the most influential social vulnerability factors that are dominant in their region and incorporate measures tailored to the specific groups of people who are under the greatest risk of being affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.

摘要

本研究旨在检查美国毗邻地区的社会脆弱性因素与 COVID-19 病例和死亡之间的空间变化关系。使用当地 Spearman 等级相关系数分析县级 COVID-19 数据和疾病控制与预防中心社会脆弱性指数 (SVI) 数据集。结果表明，SVI 和四个社会脆弱性主题与 COVID-19 病例和死亡具有空间变化的关系，这意味着空间异质性是影响这种关系的重要因素，并且关联强度在各县之间存在显着差异。还确定了在大流行期间受所有四个社会脆弱性主题影响的县热点。