Correlates of COVID-19 Transmission: Challenges and Opportunities to Access Our Most Vulnerable Populations

The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, was recognized as a pandemic disease in March of 2020 [1]. In the months that followed, the number of cases reported has increased from 53,269 on March 9 to 63,965,092 as of December 3, 2020 [2]. The Americas carry the bulk (42.4%) of that number, and the United States of America is leading the world’s countries in COVID-19 cases at 13,563,731, or 21.2% of the world’s cases [2]. In the current study, the correlates of pandemic transmission were explored through the use of univariate frequency analyses, bivariate t-tests, and correlation analyses. Results indicated that states with higher frequencies of non-White residents, poverty, and underinsured and disabled residents. The Salutogenic Model was utilized to frame the discussion regarding challenges and opportunities for addressing the correlates in an equitable fashion [3].

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus; Salutogenic model; Pandemic; Transmission

Abbreviations: WHO: World Health Organization, CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention