COVID-19 is a virus that causes diseases ranging from common colds to severe illnesses including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) (CDC, 2020). Identified as a pandemic, it has become a global issue with 228,051 reported deaths as of May 1, 2020 (National Geographic, 2020). Within British Columbia, Canada alone, there have been 2087 cases and 109 deaths as of April 29, 2020 (Bharti, B., 2020). Since BC had declared a state of emergency, only essential businesses were able to keep running. Multiple restrictions have been put into place, including physical distancing, travel restrictions and multiple business and school closures (CDC, 2020). Not only has there been significant health-related risks associated with this virus, but also many economic impacts on both the individual and commercial level.
Although there have been reports of great financial distress among small companies and individuals who have lost their job due to COVID-19, understanding its impacts from a geospatial perspective can provide insight on spatial patterns. Due to the novel nature of this virus, and the difficulty in acquiring information on how it can spread and to which communities, this paper aims to explore the impact of COVID-10 in Vancouver through a multifaceted lens. The main goals include identifying areas that are most at risk in not only a health perspective but also from an economic one for both individuals and businesses. Additionally, an exploration on vulnerable occupations will be included, as well as resilient communities. The final map aims to identify the main areas negatively affected by accounting for economic and health impacts.