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1/ Lots of takes that density is to blame for #COVID19 spread.
Yet some of the densest cities in the world have been effective containing the virus & low density areas have been hit.
It’s not about density but rather competent govt response or lack of. https://slate.com/business/2020/04/coronavirus-new-york-city-outbreak-blame.html
Yet some of the densest cities in the world have been effective containing the virus & low density areas have been hit.
It’s not about density but rather competent govt response or lack of. https://slate.com/business/2020/04/coronavirus-new-york-city-outbreak-blame.html
2/ Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong & Seoul - super-dense cities - effectively contained the virus, while some of the hardest hit areas are suburbs, eg New Rochelle, Kirkland, suburban Louisiana. New Rochelle got hit *before* NYC. Rural areas are getting hit. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/rural-america-hardest-hit-by-covid-19-outbreak#A-potential-recipe-for-disaster
3/ The “density fueled the pandemic” take relies a lot on NYC, yet:
SF - 2nd densest major U.S. city - has low infection rate. Queens & SF have similar densities but Queens has 10 times the infection rate.
Lowest density NYC borough, Staten Island, has highest infection rate.
SF - 2nd densest major U.S. city - has low infection rate. Queens & SF have similar densities but Queens has 10 times the infection rate.
Lowest density NYC borough, Staten Island, has highest infection rate.
4/ A new study by the World Bank, looking at Chinese infection rates, refutes the “density fueled the pandemic” theory:
“The evidence we’ve found does not support the argument that density is a key determinant of coronavirus transmission risk.” https://blogs.worldbank.org/sustainablecities/urban-density-not-enemy-coronavirus-fight-evidence-china
“The evidence we’ve found does not support the argument that density is a key determinant of coronavirus transmission risk.” https://blogs.worldbank.org/sustainablecities/urban-density-not-enemy-coronavirus-fight-evidence-china
5/ A study of #COVID19 infections in Germany - comparing cities to outlying lower density areas - found that there was no meaningful difference between high- & low-density areas. https://pedestrianobservations.com/2020/04/09/coronavirus-and-cities/
6/ Density *does* have significant positive health impacts, including people getting more physical activity & much better access to healthcare. Not to mention cities’ benefits to the economy & culture. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/24/upshot/coronavirus-urban-density-risks.html?referringSource=articleShare
7/ Density doesn’t fuel #COVID19.
What if we move away from density?
We’ll then have a terrible choice: a severe housing shortage (high housing costs) or sprawl (big health/climate/pollution/habitat/wildfire impacts).
Cities are good. Density is good. Let’s stick with them.
What if we move away from density?
We’ll then have a terrible choice: a severe housing shortage (high housing costs) or sprawl (big health/climate/pollution/habitat/wildfire impacts).
Cities are good. Density is good. Let’s stick with them.
