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. 2022;68(1):125-150.
doi: 10.1007/s00168-021-01071-0. Epub 2021 Jul 23.

The geography of COVID-19 in Sweden

Richard Florida  1 , Charlotta Mellander  2
Affiliations

The geography of COVID-19 in Sweden

Richard Florida et al. Ann Reg Sci. 2022.

Abstract

This paper examines the geographic factors that are associated with the spread of COVID-19 during the first wave in Sweden. We focus particularly on the role of place-based factors versus factors associated with the spread or diffusion of COVID-19 across places. Sweden is a useful case study to examine the interplay of these factors because it did not impose mandatory lockdowns and because there were essentially no regional differences in the pandemic policies or strategies during the first wave of COVID-19. We examine the role of place-based factors like density, age structures and different socioeconomic factors on the geographic variation of COVID-19 cases and on deaths, across both municipalities and neighborhoods. Our findings show that factors associated with diffusion matter more than place-based factors in the geographic incidence of COVID-19 in Sweden. The most significant factor of all is proximity to places with higher levels of infections. COVID-19 is also higher in places that were hit earliest in the outbreak. Of place-based factors, the geographic variation in COVID-19 is most significantly related to the presence of high-risk nursing homes, and only modestly associated with factors like density, population size, income and other socioeconomic characteristics of places.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The Geography of COVID-19 Cases per Capita for Swedish Municipalities. Note COVID-19 Cases per 10,000 people as of Weeks 10, 20 and 30
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
COVID-19 Cases across Neighborhoods in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Note For Weeks 15 and 30
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
COVID-19 Cases across Neighborhoods in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Note For Weeks 15 and 30
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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