Proximity to livestock farms and COVID-19 in the Netherlands, 2020–2021

Objectives: In the Netherlands, during the first phase of the COVID-19 epidemic, the hotspot of COVID-19 overlapped with the country's main livestock area, while in subsequent phases this distinct spatial pattern disappeared. Previous studies show that living near livestock farms influence human respiratory health and immunological responses. This study aimed to explore whether proximity to livestock was associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: The study population was the population of the Netherlands excluding the very strongly urbanised areas and border areas, on January 1, 2019 (12,... Mehr ...