Basic sanitation: a new indicator for the spread of COVID-19?

Abstract

Background: Basic sanitation could be a potential indicator of the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and, in this context, space-time patterns are important tools with which to elucidate the spread of disease and identify risk factors. The aim of this study was to assess a possible association between basic sanitation indices and COVID-19 rates in all the 5570 municipalities of Brazil and its spatial distribution.

Methods: Data of COVID-19 cases registered in Brazil from 28 February until 31 May 2020 and independent variables associated with basic sanitation were included.

Results: High incidence rates were significantly associated with precarious water service index (0-25% coverage) and offstandard faecal coliforms index for tap water (5-50% and 75-100% of samples tested). A significant association between high mortality rates and sewage collection (0-25% coverage)/treatment (25-50% coverage) indices was also verified. In addition, clusters with significant spatial autocorrelation were identified mainly in the North and Northeast regions for mortality and incidence rates (high-high risk areas) and for offstandard faecal coliforms index. Those regions are considered the poorest in Brazil, presenting with low incomes, human agglomerations, as well as a poor basic sanitation system, which also hinder the implementation of COVID-19-preventative measures.

Conclusions: A precarious basic sanitation infrastructure could potentially be associated with the high transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in Brazil.

Keywords: Brazil; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; faecal coliforms; sewage service; water service.