Correlating Urban Population Density and Sustainability Using the Corona Index Method

Abstract

A high population density is considered beneficial for sustainable urban planning. In crisis conditions, such as the present COVID-19 pandemic, the role of population density needs to be clearly understood in order to deal with the situation and also plan the future pandemic interventions. The paper presents a case study approach in a Nagpur, India to understand the relation between urban population density and the COVID-19 spread during the first wave. Spatial density maps and COVID-19 patient data for five consecutive critical months have been correlated using the corona index method. The corona index helps to determine the severity of the disease spread in neighbourhoods of varying population densities. The study reveals a high corona index in high-density areas and a low corona index in low- and medium-density areas. It shows that although high-density planning is sustainable, it proves hazardous for public health during pandemics. The study reveals that high-density areas are at a greater risk of disease spread during pandemics.