A first insight about spatial dimension of COVID-19: analysis at municipality level

Abstract

Background This paper is about spatial patterns of by corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Methods Using data for the first 21 weeks from municipalities in Catalonia, we analyse whether reported positive cases appear randomly or following some kind of spatial dependence. Global and local measures of spatial autocorrelation are used. Results There are some clusters alongside Catalan municipalities that change over time. Conclusions Use of spatial analysis techniques is suggested to identify spatial disease patterns and to provide spatially disaggregated public health policy recommendations.