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Published VersionCC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Coronavirus: COVID-19 Transmission in Pacific Small Island Developing States
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.17(15), pp.1-8
2020
Appears in COVID-19 Research
Abstract
Background: Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have health care systems with a limited capacity to deal with pandemics, making them especially vulnerable to the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19). This paper examines the introduction, transmission, and incidence of COVID-19 into Pacific SIDS. Methods: Calculate the rate of transmission (the average number of new cases per day between the first recorded case and the most recent day) and connectivity (daily direct flights to the leading airport in each selected island group) using flight history and COVID-19 transmission data. Results: Correlational analyses show that connectivity is positively related with (a) first-case dates and (b) spread rate in Pacific SIDS. Conclusion: Connectivity plays a central role in the spread of COVID-19 in Pacific SIDS. The continued entry of people was a significant factor for spread within countries. Efforts to prevent transmission by closing borders reduced transmission but also created significant economic hardship because many Pacific SIDS rely heavily on tourism and international exchange. The findings highlight the importance of exploring the possibility that the COVID-19 spread rate may be higher than official figures indicate, and present pathways to mitigate socioeconomic impacts. The practical implications of the findings reveal the vulnerability of Pacific SIDS to pandemics and the key role of connectivity in the spread of COVID-19 in the Pacific region.
Details
- Title
- Coronavirus: COVID-19 Transmission in Pacific Small Island Developing States
- Authors
- Walter Leal Filho (Author) - HAW HamburgJohannes M Luetz (Author) - UNSW AustraliaDavid N Sattler (Author) - Western Washington UniversityPatrick Nunn (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Social Sciences - Legacy
- Publication details
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol.17(15), pp.1-8
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2020
- DOI
- 10.3390/ijerph17155409
- ISSN
- 1660-4601; 1661-7827
- Copyright note
- Copyright © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Organisation Unit
- Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Law and Society; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; Sustainability Research Cluster
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99465007602621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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