Examining Spatial Inequality in COVID-19 Positivity Rates across New York City ZIP Codes

Authors

• Tse-Chuan Yang, University at Albany, State University of New YorkFollow
• Seulki Kim, University at Albany, State University of New YorkFollow
• Yunhan Zhao, University at Albany, State University of New YorkFollow
• Seung-won Emily Choi, Texas Tech UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

5-2021

Citation

Health & Place 69 (May 2021), 102574.

doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102574

Comments

Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

We aim to understand the spatial inequality in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) positivity rates across New York City (NYC) ZIP codes. Applying Bayesian spatial negative binomial models to a ZIP-code level dataset (N = 177) as of May 31st, 2020, we find that (1) the racial/ethnic minority groups are associated with COVID-19 positivity rates; (2) the percentages of remote workers are negatively associated with positivity rates, whereas older population and household size show a positive association; and (3) while ZIP codes in the Bronx and Queens have higher COVID-19 positivity rates, the strongest spatial effects are clustered in Brooklyn and Manhattan.