Changing travel patterns in China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gibbs, Hamish; Liu, Yang; Pearson, Carl AB; Jarvis, Christopher I; Grundy, Chris; Quilty, Billy J; Diamond, Charlie; LSHTM CMMID COVID-19 working group; Eggo, Rosalind M; (2020) Changing travel patterns in China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. NATURE COMMUNICATIONS, 11 (1). 5012-. ISSN 2041-1723 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-18783-0

Abstract

Understanding changes in human mobility in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for assessing the impacts of travel restrictions designed to reduce disease spread. Here, relying on data from mainland China, we investigate the spatio-temporal characteristics of human mobility between 1st January and 1st March 2020, and discuss their public health implications. An outbound travel surge from Wuhan before travel restrictions were implemented was also observed across China due to the Lunar New Year, indicating that holiday travel may have played a larger role in mobility changes compared to impending travel restrictions. Holiday travel also shifted healthcare pressure related to COVID-19 towards locations with lower healthcare capacity. Network analyses showed no sign of major changes in the transportation network after Lunar New Year. Changes observed were temporary and did not lead to structural reorganisation of the transportation network during the study period.

Additional Information

Item Type	Article
Faculty and Department	Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (-2023) Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & Dynamics (2023-) Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health > Dept of Infectious Disease Epidemiology & International Health (2023-)
Research Centre	Covid-19 Research Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases Centre for Epidemic Preparedness and Response
PubMed ID	33024096
Elements ID	151454