Two years of the pandemic: urban network and territorial dispersion of Covid-19 in the Region of Vales-RS

Abstract

The article addresses the relationship between urban centrality and public health in medium-sized cities, through the analysis of the dispersion of Covid-19 in the Region of Vales-RS, between March 2020 and March 2022, seeking to understand the relationships of regional centrality in Santa Cruz do Sul and Lajeado. For this, the research involved stages of bibliographical research, collection of secondary data from the health infrastructure, flows of demand for health care, total number of patients, employed persons, infected persons, deaths and total number of vaccinated persons during the time frame, for the region. The results show that the cases were concentrated in medium-sized cities, and the predominant industrial activities linked to the region, notably tobacco and meat production, played a relevant role in the spread of the virus. The availability of health resources and vaccination were fundamental to face the pandemic, and it can be observed that there was a decrease in deaths after vaccination. The research contributes to the understanding of the territorial dispersion of Covid-19 in the Region of the Valleys, providing information for the formulation of more effective public policies in the management of health and protection of the population.