Gozzi, Nicolo, Tizzoni, Michele, Chinazzi, Matteo, Ferres, Leo, Vespignani, Alessandro and Perra, Nicola ORCID: 0000-0002-5559-3064 (2021) Estimating the effect of social inequalities on the mitigation of COVID-19 across communities in Santiago de Chile. Nature Communications, 12:2429. ISSN 2041-1723 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22601-6)

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Abstract

We study the spatio-temporal spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Santiago de Chile using anonymized mobile phone data from 1.4 million users, 22% of the whole population in the area, characterizing the effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the epidemic dynamics. We integrate these data into a mechanistic epidemic model calibrated on surveillance data. As of August 1, 2020, we estimate a detection rate of 102 cases per 1000 infections (90% CI: [95–112 per 1000]). We show that the introduction of a full lockdown on May 15, 2020, while causing a modest additional decrease in mobility and contacts with respect to previous NPIs, was decisive in bringing the epidemic under control, highlighting the importance of a timely governmental response to COVID-19 outbreaks. We find that the impact of NPIs on individuals’ mobility correlates with the Human Development Index of comunas in the city. Indeed, more developed and wealthier areas became more isolated after government interventions and experienced a significantly lower burden of the pandemic. The heterogeneity of COVID-19 impact raises important issues in the implementation of NPIs and highlights the challenges that communities affected by systemic health and social inequalities face adapting their behaviors during an epidemic.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	COVID-19, Digital Epidemiology
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Business Faculty of Business > Department of International Business & Economics Faculty of Business > Networks and Urban Systems Centre (NUSC) Faculty of Business > Networks and Urban Systems Centre (NUSC) > Centre for Business Network Analysis (CBNA)
Last Modified:	13 Jul 2021 09:55
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/31874

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