Institutions and the uneven geography of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the uneven geography of COVID-19-related excess mortality during the first wave of the pandemic in Europe, before assessing the factors behind the geographical differences in impact. The analysis of 206 regions across 23 European countries reveals a distinct COVID-19 geography. Excess deaths were concentrated in a limited number of regions-expected deaths exceeded 20% in just 16 regions-with more than 40% of the regions considered experiencing no excess mortality during the first 6 months of 2020. Highly connected regions, in colder and dryer climates, with high air pollution levels, and relatively poorly endowed health systems witnessed the highest incidence of excess mortality. Institutional factors also played an important role. The first wave hit regions with a comb

SUBMITTER: Rodriguez-Pose A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8242880 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature