Abstract

Most recent research on urban health has primarily been focused on non-communicable diseases related to sedentary lifestyles, unbalanced diets and the high concentration of pollutants derived from anthropogenic activities. Cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, heatstroke and cold-related problems and injuries and accidents due to road traffic were some of the main public health challenges over several decades (HUDU 2007), which aligned perfectly with Sustainable Development Goals #3 (Health and Wellbeing), #11 and #13. However, Covid-19 has brought a new scenario, in which high density in cities has been questioned from the very first outbreak, as transmission of the virus is related to human interaction. This work takes Madrid as a case study. Madrid has a population of 3 266 126 (INE 2019), which Covid-19 impacted with 9134 deaths and more than 70629 infections from March to June 2020 (Spanish Ministry of Health 2020). The research questions are: Would density be a conduit or obstacle to Madrid’s high infection ratio? Is density related to greater resilient networks in the city? Are sustainability variables incompatible with infection prevention?

Madrid is a dense city (5400 inhabitants/km²) with a wide range of heterogeneous urban structures, high levels of motorised mobility and discontinuous green areas. The main results of this work are that i) districts with higher rates of contamination were not the denser ones; ii) south-east peripheral districts were more affected than the central ones but they were also the ones with more support networks; iii) finally, overlapping the spatial structure with the social pattern and density does not determine the spread of the disease. Therefore, it is concluded that Madrid has many sustainability parameters that make it resilient. Moreover, the importance of transversal studies to avoid such dramatic episodes and the ability to plan the city to face future pandemics while retaining urban quality of life are highlighted.

摘要

关于城市健康的最新研究主要集中在与久坐不动的生活方式，饮食不均衡以及人为活动产生的高浓度污染物有关的非传染性疾病。几十年来，心血管和呼吸系统疾病，与中暑和寒冷相关的问题以及道路交通造成的伤害和事故是一些主要的公共卫生挑战（HUDU 2007），与可持续发展目标3（健康与福祉）完全吻合， ＃11和＃13。但是，Covid-19带来了一个新情况，即从一开始就对城市的高密度提出了质疑，因为病毒的传播与人类互动有关。这项工作以马德里为案例研究。马德里人口3 266 126（INE 2019），2020年）。研究问题是：密度会成为马德里高感染率的管道还是障碍？密度与城市中更大的弹性网络相关吗？可持续性变量是否与感染预防不相容？

马德里是一个人口稠密的城市（每平方公里5400人），拥有各种各样的城市结构，高度机动化的机动性和不连续的绿地。这项工作的主要结果是：i）污染率较高的地区不是密度较高的地区；ii）东南边缘地区比中央地区受影响更大，但它们也是拥有更多支持网络的地区；iii）最后，空间结构与社会形态和密度重叠并不能决定疾病的传播。因此，可以得出结论，马德里具有许多使其具有弹性的可持续性参数。此外，强调了进行横向研究以避免这种剧烈事件的重要性以及规划城市面对未来大流行的同时保持城市生活质量的能力。