Geospatial Analysis of COVID-19 Spread in Constantine, Algeria: Epidemiological Insights and Policy Recommendations
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2025.7.2.20Keywords:
COVID-19, spatial distribution, public health, epidemiology, GISAbstract
The COVID-19 epidemic has profoundly affected societies worldwide. In Algeria, the province of Constantine recorded 3,630 confirmed cases in 2020, ranking among the provinces with the highest infection rates in the country. This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases across the municipalities of Constantine and to evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions implemented during the pandemic. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), particularly ArcGIS 10.8, various thematic maps were produced to visualize infection hotspots and spatial transmission patterns. The results revealed that municipalities such as Constantine and El Khroub exhibited the highest infection densities, strongly associated with population concentration and proximity to major transport routes. Conversely, peripheral rural areas with lower population density recorded fewer cases. Government measures, notably lockdowns and curfews, contributed to a significant reduction in transmission intensity within several high-risk zones. This study highlights the crucial role of spatial analysis in understanding epidemic dynamics and supports the integration of GIS-based approaches into pandemic preparedness and public health decision-making.
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