Learning from COVID-19 and planning post-pandemic cities to reduce pathogen transmission pathways

With vaccination on its way globally though at different speeds but with the continuous emergence of new variants, the COVID-19 pandemic is at a turning point. While significant health and socio-economic challenges will still continue to be posed in the coming years (Iftekhar et al., 2021), the transition towards the post-pandemic city is approaching, combined with other agendas, including economic recovery, energy security, inclusion and decarbonisation. Undoubtedly, we will have to learn to live with coronavirus as it becomes endemic within the population and possibly new pandemic episodes (Iftekhar et al., 2021;Mackensie, 2020). As such, the COVID-19 pandemic has constituted a planning inflection point (Dockerill et al., 2021) during which existing approaches to urban development have been, and will continue to be, questioned as local and national governments, employers and city residents continue to adapt. Such approaches have differed from one country and one place to another, highlighting severe discrepancies in approaches towards virus prevention and containment along with individual behaviours, all of which are highly path-dependent on existing cultures (e.g. car use and consumer behavior), urban structures and planning systems. Processes that were already transforming cities (such as e-commerce, homeworking and temporary transformations of spaces - either vacant or outdoor, like streets, pavements and parks) have been accelerated (Bryson et al., 2021;Andres et al., 2021;Brail, 2021;Florida et al., 2021).

Calling for responsible inclusive planning and healthy cities in Africa

Urban planning is at a turning point. The COVID-19 pandemic calls for an alternative approach which focuses on creating healthier built environments. This is especially true in Africa given rapid urbanization combined with skill shortages in planning and underinvestment. Connecting health and planning is not new across Africa. Forty-five per cent of African countries experience at least one epidemic annually, including cholera, measles and malaria. This is partly related to the presence of dense informal and unplanned settlements, with minimal access to water, sanitation and hygiene facilities contributing to the rapid transmission of respiratory illnesses. Here, Andres et al assess the health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa and examine the role of urban planning in such circumstances.