Description of the spatial distribution of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the Alto Cauca

The purpose of this article is to characterize the relationship between social determinants of health and the geographical distribution of COVID-19 cases in the municipalities of the Upper Basin of the Cauca River. To achieve this objective, an exploratory spatial data analysis was conducted, including mortality rates and COVID-19 cases, as well as a temporal analysis of spatial diffusion that includes the period from March 6, 2020 to June 26, 2021, all based on data from the National Institute of Health (INS). The results show that the concentration of COVID-19 cases and deaths, along with the social determinants of health, tend to be concentrated in the most populated areas, such as the old Caldas area, the center of the Valle del Cauca, the metropolitan area of Cali and the south of Cauca. In addition, it is concluded that the concentration of municipalities is the result of a direct relationship between the social determinants of health and the incidence of COVID-19 cases.