College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
Center for Research and Innovation, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), Kigali, Rwanda.
Front Public Health. 2024 Feb 27;12:1345433. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1345433. eCollection 2024.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan regions where healthcare resources are limited. The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is facilitated by the movement of people from place to place. Therefore, implementing measures that restrict movement of people and contacts is crucial in controlling the spread of the disease. Following the identification of the first COVID-19 case in Rwanda, the government implemented stringent measures, including a complete nationwide lockdown, border closures, curfews, reduced capacity in public transportation and businesses, and mandatory testing. This study aims to assess epidemiological trends in COVID-19 cases in relation to changes in population mobility within the public transportation system.
A descriptive analysis using publicly available data on COVID-19 epidemiological indicators (cases, deaths, vaccinations, and stringency index) and mobility data was conducted.
The results reveal a strong correlation between mobility in public transportation and other activities, underscoring Rwanda's reliance on its public transportation system. The study also identifies a pattern where increases in transit station mobility preceded spikes in COVID-19 cases, suggesting that the subsequent rise in public transportation usage may contribute to higher infection rates.
Therefore, this study emphasizes the importance of ongoing vigilance and regulatory measures regarding public transportation during infectious disease outbreaks.
COVID-19 大流行的爆发给全球医疗系统带来了巨大的负担，特别是在医疗资源有限的撒哈拉以南地区。SARS-CoV-2 的传播是通过人们从一个地方到另一个地方的移动来促进的。因此，实施限制人员和接触的措施对于控制疾病的传播至关重要。在卢旺达发现首例 COVID-19 病例后，政府实施了严格的措施，包括全国范围内的封锁、关闭边境、宵禁、减少公共交通和商业的运力，以及强制性检测。本研究旨在评估 COVID-19 病例的流行病学趋势与公共交通系统内人口流动变化之间的关系。
使用公开的 COVID-19 流行病学指标（病例、死亡、疫苗接种和严格指数）和流动性数据进行描述性分析。
结果显示，公共交通和其他活动的流动性之间存在很强的相关性，突显出卢旺达对其公共交通系统的依赖。该研究还发现了一种模式，即过境站流动性的增加先于 COVID-19 病例的激增，这表明随后公共交通使用量的增加可能导致更高的感染率。
因此，本研究强调了在传染病爆发期间对公共交通进行持续警惕和监管措施的重要性。
