biostudies-literatureTakasaki YSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of CanadaUniversity of TorontoJapan Society for the Promotion of Science20727https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9713114biostudies-literatureUnknown12(1)Understanding COVID-19 contagion among poor populations is hampered by a paucity of data, and especially so in remote rural communities with limited access to transportation, communication, and health services. We report on the first study on COVID-19 contagion across rural communities without road access. We conducted telephone surveys with over 400 riverine communities in the Peruvian Amazon in the early phase of the pandemic. During the first wave (April-June, 2020), COVID-19 spread from cities to most communities through public and private river transportation according to their remoteness. The initial spread was delayed by transportation restrictions but at the same time was driven in unintended ways by government social assistance. During the second wave (August, 2020), although peopScientific reportsCOVID-19 contagion across remote communities in tropical forests.PMC971311418H05312435-2020-0182Abizaid CCoomes OTTakasaki YfalseCOVID-19 contagion across remote communities in tropical forests.Understanding COVID-19 contagion among poor populations is hampered by a paucity of data, and especially so in remote rural communities with limited access to transportation, communication, and health services. We report on the first study on COVID-19 contagion across rural communities without road access. We conducted telephone surveys with over 400 riverine communities in the Peruvian Amazon in the early phase of the pandemic. During the first wave (April-June, 2020), COVID-19 spread from cities to most communities through public and private river transportation according to their remoteness. The initial spread was delayed by transportation restrictions but at the same time was driven in unintended ways by government social assistance. During the second wave (August, 2020), although peop2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Dec2026-06-03T13:21:39.98Z2025-04-06T11:26:41.177ZS-EPMC97131143645661310.1038/s41598-022-25238-7