The link between poor housing conditions and COVID-19 infection – Harvard Kennedy School

Whats the issue?

Following the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers continue to investigate the factors related to the spread of diseaseand how city leaders can better respond before, during, and after such crises. Housing conditions, for example, can play a role in infectious disease risk. Substandard housingwhich might feature poor ventilation, overcrowding, and dampnesscan create an environment favorable to respiratory disease.

So, did poor housing conditions lead to moreand more severecases of COVID-19 infection during the pandemic?

Researchers from the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University and the MGH Institute of Health Professions studied the connections between poor housing conditions and COVID-19 infection and severity during the first year of the pandemic. They combined city housing data with healthcare data for residents of Chelsea, Massachusettsa densely populated city with high levels of substandard housing.

The researchers found that:

They conclude, The results demonstrate the value of combining cross-sector datasets to yield new insights and solutions. Existing city data can be leveraged to identify and prioritize 1) high-risk areas for future pandemic response activities, and 2) for longer-term solutions that address social determinants of health through safe and affordable housing.

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The link between poor housing conditions and COVID-19 infection - Harvard Kennedy School