Top Cities Facing the Highest Risk of COVID-19 Outbreaks

New Study Identifies High-Risk Cities for Coronavirus Spread

Understanding Coronaviruses

Coronaviruses are a diverse family of viruses that can lead to respiratory illnesses ranging from mild coughs to severe pneumonia. This group includes various strains, such as those responsible for the common cold and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The 2019-novel coronavirus is a newly identified strain first detected in Wuhan City, China.

Current Situation as of January 29

As of January 29, there are over 6,000 confirmed cases of the 2019-novel coronavirus across 19 countries, resulting in a total of 132 deaths.

Research by the University of Southampton

To determine the cities most at risk for the spread of the 2019-novel coronavirus, researchers at the University of Southampton have compiled a detailed report. This study, published by WorldPop in the School of Geography and Environmental Science, analyzed population movement patterns to predict how the virus might disseminate.

Cities at Greatest Risk

The analysis reveals that Bangkok, Thailand is currently at the highest risk, followed closely by Japan and Hong Kong. By utilizing air travel data from regions receiving passengers from the most affected Chinese cities, the researchers identified the top thirty countries at risk. Among these, the United States ranks sixth, Australia tenth, Canada sixteenth, and the United Kingdom seventeenth.

Impact of Travel Restrictions

Despite the implementation of travel restrictions, it is estimated that over five million individuals had already departed from Wuhan City prior to the enforcement of these measures. With a population exceeding 11 million, the World Health Organization notes that this marks the first instance of a city of such size being subject to restrictions.

Incubation Period and Global Cases

The 2019-novel coronavirus has an incubation period of ten to fourteen days, with the outbreak anticipated to peak in approximately one week. Currently, there are five confirmed cases in the United States and three in Canada, with numbers expected to rise globally.

Ongoing Monitoring and Updates

Experts are continuously monitoring the situation to provide further updates as it develops.

References

GOV.UK. (2020). Wuhan novel coronavirus: information for the public. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public [Accessed 28 Jan. 2020].
Who.int. (2020). Coronavirus. [online] Available at: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus [Accessed 28 Jan. 2020].
Worldometer. (2020). Wuhan coronavirus statistics. [online] Available at: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ [Accessed 29 Jan. 2020].
Worldpop.org. (2020). WorldPop :: China. [online] Available at: https://www.worldpop.org/events/china [Accessed 28 Jan. 2020].
Image by nali_wike from Pixabay.