Resumen:
The restrictions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first weeks of
confinement in 2020, entailed marked changes concerning urban socio-spatial relations. This
article analyzes perceptions of the importance of public space, neighbors' support, neighborhood
safety, and home safety before and during the initial months of the COVID-19 lockdown. We
conducted an online survey between March and April 2020 in Quito, Ecuador, and applied
quantitative and spatial methods to analyze the perceptions. The results show statistically sig nificant differences in neighbors’ support, home safety, and neighborhood safety between normal
days and lockdown days. The perceptions of the public space as non-important before the lock down and the perceptions of not being safe at home or in the neighborhood are spatially random,
not concentrated in a specific area of the city. Our findings also show that gender, the importance
of public space during normal days, and the willingness of neighbors to support each other on
lockdown days could explain the perception of the importance of public space on lockdown days.
This research provides unique information to contribute with perspectives and discussions of
public space and social dynamics in pandemic and post pandemic times
