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The trend in Covid-19 Cases in Cambria County
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The final Poisson model for the number of cases is:
ln(cases) = -1.033 + 0.000002*(population) + 0.045*(% with access to exercise opportunities) - 0.070*(Social Association Rate) + 0.13*(% who Drive Alone to Work) +
0.41*(% not proficient in English) + 0.14*(% with severe housing problems)
- Access to exercise opportunities, is a component of health behaviors and is positively associated with the number of cases in each county.
- The social association rate is the number of membership organizations per 100,000 people and is negatively associated with the number of cases. This measure is a component of the social and economic z-score.
- The percent who drive alone to work is also a component of social and economic z-score and is positively associated with the number of cases.
- The percent with severe housing problems is a component of the physical environment z-score and is positively associated with the number of cases. It is correlated with poor length of life outcomes.
- The percent not proficient in English is a demographic variable that is not a component of the rankings. It has the strongest association with the number of cases.
The model for deaths last week was:
ln(number of deaths) = -0.14 - 7.97*(health behavior z-score) + 2.83*(social economic z score) + 1.62*(quality of life z score) + 0.000003*(population)
The final model with the submeasures that was settled on was:
ln(number of deaths) = -4.94 + 0.000001*(population) + 0.07*(% with access to exercise opportunities) + 0.78*(%Unemployed) - 0.16*(% of Children in poverty) + 0.46*(% not proficient in English)
- Access to exercise opportunities, is a component of health behaviors and is positively associated with the number of deaths in each county.
- The percent unemployed is a component of the social and economic factors z-score and is positively associated with the number of deaths.
- The percent of children in poverty is also a component of the social and economic factors z-score and is negatively associated with the number of deaths. This seems counter intuitive but counties with higher rates of child poverty may have less social interaction with more susceptible populations such as the elderly.
- Like the number of cases, The percent not proficient in English was positively associated with the number of deaths. This variable and the % unemployed could be positively correlated with poor quality of life.
These variables would be better to study at the individual level than the county level. I looked at these variables as they were readily available. The graph above shows the trend in cases in my home county, Cambria County. It does provide some clues as to what factors may be exacerbating this pandemic.
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