Demographic inequalities as determinants and consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia

Abstract

Since early March 2020 Latvia is fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learned from this crisis will be instrumental in shaping future public health policy. Any policy response to the pandemic must be tailored to the particular risks within population in order to avoid the unnecessary social and economic damage on a national and international scale. Available literature on the topic highlights region-specific demographic factors associated with elevated population vulnerability to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to ascertain the role of a pre-existing demographic inequalities in Latvia in the onset and progression of COVID-19 pandemic and lay groundwork for projecting the impact of this pandemic on the demographic development of Latvia and its regions. Methods used in the study include literature review, as well as statistical and spatial analysis of the identified demographic parameters. The study is concluded by a discussion on the future demographic effects of the current pandemic. Data used in this study are obtained from Central Statistics Bureau of Latvia database and the information materials published by National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Initial conclusions indicate that demographic disparities among regions and municipalities make some of them more vulnerable to various effects of the pandemic. Economic stimulus measures implemented in response to COVID-19 crisis may have a positive effect in limiting the damage inflicted by the crisis to the demographic situation in the country. However, this positive effect may be mostly limited to the international migration processes.