Visualizing the uneven accessibility to nucleic acid testing services in Shenzhen under China’s COVID control measures

Abstract

Under China’s “dynamic zero” COVID-19 policy, Shenzhen required its residents to present a negative nucleic acid testing result within 24 or 48 h to access most public spaces and transit until most recently. The uneven accessibility to testing services could render certain groups vulnerable to mobility disadvantage (e.g., denied access to public transport). Using data of nucleic acid testing services and residents’ positioning points, I created a cartogram to capture the spatial distribution of people’s activities and that of testing services in Shenzhen. The cartogram indicates that the nucleic acid testing services were spatially concentrated in a way inconsistent with the distribution of people’s daily activities. Several girds exhibit high presence of activities but low or no provision of testing services that were necessary for residents to accessing public spaces and transport. The cartogram casts light to potential consequence of regular nucleic acid testing on mobility equality.