An American study has succeeded in identifying places that constitute fertile environments for the spread of the new Corona virus infection that causes Covid-19 disease, which provides more solutions to limit the spread of the epidemic after the lifting of the closure measures.

In a report published in the French newspaper "Le Figaro", the writer Vanson Bordonaf said that the study, published in the journal "Nature", collected data on the movement of millions of people in a number of American cities during the first wave of the pandemic to identify hotspots of infection.

A team of researchers - led by Serena Chang of Stanford University - analyzed data on the movement of 98 million Americans between their places of residence and the various shops they frequented.

Because the study focused on cell phone users, it was not possible to monitor infection rates within schools and nursing homes.

Crowded places and slums

The study concluded that infection foci are linked to specific places, most notably restaurants, then sports halls, cafes, bars and hotels.

The authors of the study estimate that if restaurants reopened in Chicago on May 1, without any restrictions;

This resulted in nearly 600,000 additional cases of coronavirus.

The study also found that poorer neighborhoods were more likely to spread the disease.

"The residents of these areas have less ability to work remotely, so they continue to go to places that everyone frequents, which are often more crowded and dangerous," says Peric Tranoy, a researcher at Letis Laboratory at the University of Rouen Normandy.

"Once residents of these areas are exposed to the infection, they transfer it to their neighborhoods in the suburbs. The phone data also shows that they spend more time in food stores, which increases their contact rate with others and the risk of infection spreading," Tranoy adds.

Among the main factors for the transmission of the virus, according to the study, was the time people spend in the shops and the number of people they meet, not to mention sitting together at the table to eat without wearing a muzzle.

Vittoria Colisa, a modeling specialist and director of research at the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, believes that such observational studies are largely accurate.

Coliza adds that it is widely known that places where the rules of physical distancing are not applied constitute the most dangerous foci of the virus spread, but despite this, such studies remain useful - in her opinion - in determining the risks accurately and helping to make appropriate decisions when lifting the lockdown measures.

Gradual and secure opening

According to the study, opening all companies and shops in the city of Chicago without taking any measures may lead to an increase in the number of injuries in residential areas by 39%, but by reducing the capacity of these places to 20%, the rate of infection spread will not exceed 10%. .

The researchers in this study were keen to collect data from 10 American cities, in order for the results to be more accurate and comprehensive.

Tranoy confirms that the study provides practical solutions after the end of the closure, although it did not include secondary schools and companies, as it is evident that reducing the capacity of crowded places in half over a period of weeks can help protect against a possible spread of infection.

The biggest challenge after lifting the closure measures - according to the writer - is the success in gradually opening companies, schools and stores, while controlling the spread of Corona infection.