Spatial and Temporal Mapping of COVID-19 Pandemic Using GIS Technique: A Case Study of Italy

Abstract

Coronavirus pandemic disease (COVID-19) has spread globally. Presently, there is insufficient data regarding clinical studies and its epidemiological features. However, it is comprehended that most of the COVID-19 infected patients show mild to moderate symptoms which improve without any medical assistance attributing to enhanced immune system by generating antibodies against the viral antigens. In this comparative study, the active cases, recovered cases, deaths, and total confirmed cases from January 2020 to 23^rd August 2021 have been analyzed using a geospatial technique inverse distance weighting (IDW). Until latter, the total number of COVID-19 cases reported in Italy were 4,168,699 including 128,715 deceased, 3,904,429 recovered and 135,555 cases were still active carriers. Out of total cases 20.76% were reported in Lombardia region with a death rate of 26.26%. This mortality rate was found higher in comparison with rate followed by Emilia-Romagna (10.35%), Piemonte (9.10%), and Vento (9.06%). While percentage of recovery was found variable i.e. in Lombardia 20.98%, followed by Veneto 10.89%, Campania 10.88% and Emilia-Romagna 9.72%. COVID-19 evolution in Italy has majorly affected the urban area i.e., Rome, Milan, Naples, Bologna, and Florence. Geospatial technology played a vital statistical role by tracking infected patients, active cases, and the recovered cases. Thus, it is acknowledged that geospatial techniques are an important tool in statistical evaluation of disease spread and their control among populations