Understanding COVID-19 Recovery Dynamics in the MENA Region: A Geospatial Analysis of Key Determinants and Implications

SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19COVID-19 emerged in Wuhan, China in 2019 and quickly became a global pandemic with profound public health, economic, and social impacts. Despite extensive studies on epidemic impacts, there is a notable gap in research focusing on the recoveryRecovery aspect, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENAMENA) area. This study fills this gap and uses geospatial data and five statistical models to understand COVID-19 recoveriesCOVID-19 recovery and impacts in MENAMENA countries. Key findings highlight the influence of variables such as fully vaccinated people, population over 65, population density, and hospital beds on COVID-19COVID-19 recovery variations. When analysed collectively, these factors emerge as potential key determinants contributing to different recovery outcomes within the region. Notably, four independent country-level variables account for at least 80% of reported recoveries in Multiscale Geographically Weighted Regression (MGWRMGWR) model results, indicating their central role in shaping COVID-19 recovery caseCOVID-19 recovery cases outcomes in spatial regression models. As the first research exploration in the MENAMENA region, this study and provides valuable insights for future research and public health interventions to better understand and manage the recovery dynamics in this specific geographical area.