Potential impacts of COVID-19 in urban slums: addressing challenges to protect the world’s most vulnerable

Among city inhabitants, the COVID-19 crisis is likely to have disproportionately damaging effects on slum dwellers compared to other urban residents, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries. Due to physical, structural and social aspects of slum environments, prevention efforts, such as hand washing, self-isolation and physical distancing are not feasible. The health impacts of COVID-19 in slums may be intensified by poor access to health services often within those settings. We have an unprecedented opportunity to act now through rapid program and policy response strategies to prevent further destruction and protect the urban poor.