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Keeping Low Reproductive Number Despite the Rebound Population Mobility in Korea, a Country Never under Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Soyoung Kim

    (Department of Mathematics, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea)

  • Yae-Jean Kim

    (Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea)

  • Kyong Ran Peck

    (Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea)

  • Youngsuk Ko

    (Department of Mathematics, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea)

  • Jonggul Lee

    (INSERM, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sorbonne Université, 75646 Paris, France)

  • Eunok Jung

    (Department of Mathematics, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea)

Abstract

Nonpharmaceutical intervention has been one of the most important strategies to prevent the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 in the communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Korea has a unique experience that we had the first large outbreak during the early pandemic and could flatten the epidemic curve without lockdown. In this study, the effective reproductive numbers were calculated for the entire nation and Seoul (the capital city) Metropolitan Area from February 16–15 July, where 60% of the population reside. We compared the changes in population mobility data and reproductive number trends according to the changes in the government’s nonpharmaceutical intervention strategy. The total daily mobility decreased when Korea had the first wave of a large outbreak in February–March 2020, which was mainly caused by the decrease of daily noncommuting mobility. However, daily commuting mobility from 16 February to 30 June 2020 was maintained at a similar level since there was no national lockdown for workers who commute between home and work. During the first half-year of 2020, Korea could control the outbreak to a manageable level without a significant decrease in daily public mobility. However, it may be only possible when the public follows personal hygiene principles and social distancing without crisis fatigue or reduced compliance.

Suggested Citation

  • Soyoung Kim & Yae-Jean Kim & Kyong Ran Peck & Youngsuk Ko & Jonggul Lee & Eunok Jung, 2020. "Keeping Low Reproductive Number Despite the Rebound Population Mobility in Korea, a Country Never under Lockdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:24:p:9551-:d:465416
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kim, Kijin & Kim, Soyoung & Lee, Donghyun & Park, Cyn-Young, 2023. "Impacts of social distancing policy and vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Korea," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Miji Kwon & Wonyoung Yang, 2022. "Mask-Wearing Behaviors after Two Years of Wearing Masks Due to COVID-19 in Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Ratih Oktri Nanda & Aldilas Achmad Nursetyo & Aditya Lia Ramadona & Muhammad Ali Imron & Anis Fuad & Althaf Setyawan & Riris Andono Ahmad, 2022. "Community Mobility and COVID-19 Dynamics in Jakarta, Indonesia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-12, May.
    4. Jongmin Lee & Seok-Min Lee & Eunok Jung, 2021. "How Important Is Behavioral Change during the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Mathematical Modeling Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-12, September.
    5. Hae Ran Kim & Eun Jung Kim, 2021. "Factors Associated with Mental Health among International Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-13, October.
    6. Minjun Kim & Dongbeom Kim & Daeyong Jin & Geunhan Kim, 2023. "Application of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in Urban Growth Modeling: A Case Study of Seoul Metropolitan Area, Korea," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Paolo Contiero & Alessandro Borgini & Martina Bertoldi & Anna Abita & Giuseppe Cuffari & Paola Tomao & Maria Concetta D’Ovidio & Stefano Reale & Silvia Scibetta & Giovanna Tagliabue & Roberto Boffi & , 2022. "An Epidemiological Study to Investigate Links between Atmospheric Pollution from Farming and SARS-CoV-2 Mortality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-12, April.

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