Geographic access to United States SARS-CoV-2 testing sites highlights healthcare disparities and may bias transmission estimates
Benjamin Rader, Christina M. Astley, Karla Therese L. Sy, Kara Sewalk, Yulin Hswen, John S. Brownstein, Moritz U. G. Kraemer
Abstract
We paired high-resolution travel-time metrics with a SARS-CoV-2 testing location database in the United States. Median travel time to testing sites is longer in counties with lower population density, and a higher percent of minority and uninsured individuals. Differential geographic accessibility to testing can recapitulate healthcare disparities and bias transmission estimates.
Topics & Concepts
MedicineTransmission (telecommunications)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Health care2019-20 coronavirus outbreakPopulationHealth equityEnvironmental healthDemographyPublic healthEconomic growthVirologyDiseaseTelecommunicationsOutbreakNursingComputer sciencePathologyEconomicsSociologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)COVID-19 epidemiological studiesData-Driven Disease SurveillanceCOVID-19 and healthcare impacts