This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
Urbanization and the Covid-19 Pandemic ¶
Published on May 11, 2020, the world was grappling with the rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. As the virus continued to spread, it became clear that urban areas were bearing the brunt of the pandemic.
The percentage of the world's population living in urban areas is rapidly increasing, with cities around the world experiencing the devastating impact of the pandemic. The logic is simple: crowded and densely populated residences, increased subway cars and sidewalks, and hyper-connected global airports all contribute to the sharing of germs.
In a pandemic, the connectivity and human proximity of densely populated cities pose alarming risks. The many impacts of such a pandemic mean that cities are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, with most services important for city dwellers grinding to a halt.
Decentralization of City Services ¶
With various decentralization reforms happening in Africa, there has been tremendous progress in the decentralization of services, especially in cities. Development control, health, and agriculture are some of the main functions delivered by city functions, with a big fraction of budgetary allocations.
To mitigate the spread of the virus in less developed countries, a need to undertake mass testing is important, and this requires a door-to-door testing approach. However, this poses significant challenges, especially in populous informal settlements, where the process may not be safe.
Public Health Systems and Sanitation Facilities ¶
There is an urgency for a healthier and equitable public space to reduce social inequalities, as well as designing urban spaces and housing and related infrastructure for health and proper public health systems to help counter the effects of Covid-19.
Public health professionals have severally reminded us that proper hygiene is the solution to preventing the spread of the CoronaVirus. Properly managed sanitation facilities are vital, especially in informal settlements where they are a luxury for the advantaged.
Conclusion ¶
While major cities, including African cities, still serve as the global entry points for tourists and outbreaks, the eventual impacts to communities in the developing countries and in urban informal sectors can be more severe. Urban centres may entail higher risks of an initial transmission, but they're also hubs of important public health and communication infrastructure – both key resources in fighting a pandemic.
