Review of 'COVID-19 & informal settlements: is Stay Home safe?'

Reviewer: UCL Open: Environment Editorial Office

Publication date of review: 2020-11-06

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UCL Open: Environment Editorial Office4

COVID-19 & informal settlements: is Stay Home safe?Crossref ScienceOpen

Average rating:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Level of importance:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Level of validity:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Level of completeness:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Level of comprehensibility:	    Rated 4 of 5.
Competing interests:	None

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Abstract: found
Article: found

Is Open Access

COVID-19 & informal settlements: is Stay Home safe?

Emily Nix, Jacob Paulose, Monica Lakhanpaul … (2020)

Disproportional burden of COVID-19 and vulnerability to containment measures in informal settlements have been recognised, however, the role of poor housing conditions in propagating these remains neglected. Poor housing conditions will make it difficult to effectively implement social distancing measures. With increased time spent in cramped, dark and uncomfortable indoor environments, water and sanitation outside the home, and no outdoor space, higher exposure to existing health hazards and high levels of stress, with women and children most vulnerable, are anticipated. We reflect on these interconnections and recommend immediate measures and the long-term need for adequate housing for health and well-being.

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Preprint version 1

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Review information

DOI:: 10.14293/S2199-1006.1.SOR-MED.AYB8J2.v1.RNMTAC

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This work has been published open access under Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Conditions, terms of use and publishing policy can be found at www.scienceopen.com.

Keywords: Sustainability in architecture and the built environment,Sanitation, health, and the environment,Health,COVID-19, housing, informal settlements, health, vulnerability

Review text

This review report is posted on behalf of Istiakh Ahmed.

This paper has articulated the issue quite well with proper explanation. Housing in informal settlements have always been an important issue to understand liveability of its dwellers. While I do not have any major comments for this paper, but a small point, which I believe will help us to understand the problem clearly and will make the argument strong.

Speaking of Covid19, its safety practices are one important issue that also determine its contamination. Government, NGOs and all other relevant agencies are working to make sure that people follow the hygiene practices. However, poor housing condition and all the mentioned characteristics of the informal settlement housing, it becomes very difficult to maintain those practices. E.g. washing hands frequently is considered as one of the most effective measures for COVID19 but that would require for a dweller to go to the public water station which makes it more dangerous. Similar issues can be explored a little bit to understand how housing pattern/condition are also shaping people’s behavior and how that is effecting COVID19 contamination.

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Version and Review History

Published Version

Preprint version 3

Preprint version 2

Reviewed by Anwesha Dutta Reviewed by Christian Harkensee

Preprint version 1

Reviewed by UCL Open: Environment Editorial Office Reviewed by Anwesha Dutta