Covid-19 Spreading through Rio de Janeiro City and its Uneven Space Manifestations

Abstract

The present study treats spatial logics related to the uneven diffusion of SARS-COV-2 in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of its proliferation in March, April, and May, 2020. The themes discussed are divided into two parts: 1) the identification of the spread of (under)reported cases of people diagnosed with Covid-19 across the boroughs of the city and 2) social contradictions and governmental responses to mitigate the pandemic. Indicators of cases and deaths were obtained through official databases, the main source being the Portal Rio Covid-19. Results show that the disease was initially concentrated in Barra da Tijuca and the South Zone boroughs and then the virus quickly spread throughout the city, with high incidence in the Western Zone and with the highest death rates and underreports being concentrated in slum areas.