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

Author

Listed:
  • Hamish Gibbs

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Yang Liu

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Carl A. B. Pearson

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Christopher I. Jarvis

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Chris Grundy

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Billy J. Quilty

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Charlie Diamond

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

  • Rosalind M. Eggo

    (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
    London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamish Gibbs & Yang Liu & Carl A. B. Pearson & Christopher I. Jarvis & Chris Grundy & Billy J. Quilty & Charlie Diamond & Rosalind M. Eggo, 2020. "Changing travel patterns in China during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18783-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18783-0
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu, Ling & Zhao, Pengjun & Tang, Junqing & Pang, Liang, 2023. "Changes in tourist mobility after COVID-19 outbreaks," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Li, Tao & Wang, Jiaoe & Huang, Jie & Yang, Wenyue & Chen, Zhuo, 2021. "Exploring the dynamic impacts of COVID-19 on intercity travel in China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    3. Jiang, Shixiong & Cai, Canhuang, 2022. "Unraveling the dynamic impacts of COVID-19 on metro ridership: An empirical analysis of Beijing and Shanghai, China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 158-170.
    4. Chen, Chao & Feng, Tao & Gu, Xiaoning & Yao, Baozhen, 2022. "Investigating the effectiveness of COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures on the use of public transport: A case study of The Netherlands," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 98-107.
    5. Pan, Yu & He, Sylvia Y., 2022. "Analyzing COVID-19’s impact on the travel mobility of various social groups in China’s Greater Bay Area via mobile phone big data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 263-281.
    6. Xiao, Weiye & Li, Han & Yuan, Feng & Chen, Wen, 2024. "The 2-month lockdown and commuting behavior transformation in Shanghai: A phone signal data-based analysis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 149-161.
    7. Atul Pokharel & Robert Soulé & Avi Silberschatz, 2021. "A case for location based contact tracing," Health Care Management Science, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 420-438, June.
    8. Xu, Hao & Xiao, Weiwei & Zhang, Shengyu & Fan, Yuqiang & Kang, Xiaoyuan & Han, Yong & Zhou, Tuqiang, 2024. "Exploring determinants of freeway service area usage in the context of sustainable and collaborated development for transport and tourism," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    9. Li, Tao & Cui, Leibo & Wang, Jiaoe, 2022. "New equilibrium? Dynamics of intercity mobility in China during COVID-19 pandemic period," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    10. Young Song, Annie & Lee, Seunghyeon & Wong, S.C., 2023. "A machine learning approach to analyzing spatiotemporal impacts of mobility restriction policies on infection rates," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    11. Ryan P. Badman & Yunxin Wu & Keigo Inukai & Rei Akaishi, 2021. "Blessing or Curse of Democracy?: Current Evidence from the Covid-19 Pandemic," Papers 2105.10865, arXiv.org.
    12. Ma, Qiwei & Liu, Anqi & Chen, Yuzhou & Tao, Ran, 2024. "Border effects for domestic travel in China during COVID-19 pandemic," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    13. Pengjun Zhao & Yukun Gao, 2023. "Discovering the long-term effects of COVID-19 on jobs–housing relocation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-17, December.
    14. Rita, Paulo & Moro, Sérgio & Cavalcanti, Gabriel, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on tourism: Analysis of online reviews in the airlines sector," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).

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