Reimagining the City

Some countries face the pandemic through self-discipline; others rely on invasive monitoring systems. Both approaches have their merits and drawbacks. Yet ultimately, these methods converge in the same place: urbanity. The shared human space where we express the inexpressible and feel one another's presence.

The indescribable rhythms and sensations that every city stirs in a sufficiently perceptive person speak to an intangible "flavor" built by the agreements of its inhabitants. These sensations are largely mediated through the social life of the porous public spaces woven into every city. Generating these spaces of convergence and synchronic vibration depends on the capacity to use both public spaces and shared private ones.

We Are Hostages of COVID-19

Will there be a new normal? Undoubtedly, one in which science, technology, and the state's capacity to coordinate them can generate new social equilibria. From the hopes and rumors of vaccines circulating among global powers to the personal protective measures we can adopt to keep coexisting, urban life will go on.

Recovering normalcy will require complex infrastructure and real-time information systems with risk indices and contagion-probability data. Schemes like those of Google and Apple, alongside various governments, are publicly available and enable urban epidemiological intelligence. Through them it is possible to map contagion vectors, delineate zones with their specific characteristics, and ultimately provide timely information so that populations shift their decision-making patterns. I acknowledge that last point is open to criticism, given that human beings are not particularly rational actors, but greater access to information does influence the kinds of decisions we make.

These systems work. In many Asian countries they are already operational, delivering information to both the state and the individual (a separate and genuinely interesting question is why community solidarity tends to take precedence over individual interest in Asia). This enables governments to develop intelligence on which direct interventions will have the greatest impact in mitigating contagion and expanding COVID-safe zones.

The new normal, shaped by the exclusionary nature that already characterizes many cities, will unfold according to how these systems create new safe spaces and who gains access to them. With this data, it becomes possible to optimize for detecting and reducing contagion vectors tied to specific territories. The result will be a new normal in which some people have access to high-sanitary-security hubs and others do not. The equity and equality dimensions of public health make decisive state action, in its regulatory capacity, indispensable.

As long as global testing capacity cannot scale to millions of tests per day, containing a highly contagious virus will remain impossible. This infrastructure is also globally useful for rapidly halting any viral or bacterial outbreak. One need only recall that to protect Wuhan, China achieved what seemed unthinkable for the West: 10 million tests in 14 days. That infrastructure and those capabilities are now accessible at a planetary scale, and it is the responsibility of those who believe in equality and equity to ensure that technology serves a better and more just reality for all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will COVID-19 permanently change urban life?

Urban life will continue but under new frameworks of epidemiological surveillance, risk-indexed public spaces, and real-time information systems that help both governments and individuals make safer decisions.

What role does technology play in the post-COVID city?

Systems developed by Google, Apple, and various governments enable urban epidemiological intelligence, helping map contagion vectors, identify high-risk zones, and provide timely data to influence population behavior.

Will access to safe urban spaces be equitable after COVID-19?

Not automatically. The risk is that high-sanitary-security hubs will emerge for some and not others, making decisive state regulation essential to ensure equitable access to safe urban environments.