COVID-19 lockdown induces disease-mitigating structural changes in mobility networks.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
; 117(52): 32883-32890, 2020 12 29.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-960372
ABSTRACT
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic many countries implemented containment measures to reduce disease transmission. Studies using digital data sources show that the mobility of individuals was effectively reduced in multiple countries. However, it remains unclear whether these reductions caused deeper structural changes in mobility networks and how such changes may affect dynamic processes on the network. Here we use movement data of mobile phone users to show that mobility in Germany has not only been reduced considerably Lockdown measures caused substantial and long-lasting structural changes in the mobility network. We find that long-distance travel was reduced disproportionately strongly. The trimming of long-range network connectivity leads to a more local, clustered network and a moderation of the "small-world" effect. We demonstrate that these structural changes have a considerable effect on epidemic spreading processes by "flattening" the epidemic curve and delaying the spread to geographically distant regions.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Travel
/
Quarantine
/
Pandemics
/
Spatial Analysis
/
COVID-19
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
English
Journal:
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS