Influence of urban morphology on COVID-19 transmission in Saudi Arabia: lessons for the post-COVID era.

BACKGROUND

Urban environments may influence COVID-19 transmission.

OBJECTIVE

To examine how urban form, population size, and density relate to COVID-19 spread in Saudi Arabian cities.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 18 major cities categorized as centralized, linear, or grid-patterned. Data on confirmed cases, population, area, and density were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses.

RESULTS

Total COVID-19 cases strongly correlated with city population size (r = 0.942, p < 0.001) and moderately with cases per density (r = 0.506, p = 0.032). Population density alone was not significant. Centralized cities exhibited higher infection rates than linear or grid-patterned cities.

CONCLUSION

Population size drives COVID-19 spread, while urban form and connectivity shape local transmission dynamics. Urban planning and targeted interventions in centralized areas can support pandemic mitigation.