The Effect of Governmental Health Measures on Public Behaviour During the COVID-۱۹ Pandemic Outbreak

Background  The coronavirus disease ۲۰۱۹ (COVID-۱۹) pandemic resulted in radical changes in many aspects of life. To deal with this, each country has implemented continuous health measures from the beginning of the outbreak. Discovering how governmental actions impacted public behaviour during the outbreak stage is the purpose of this study. Methods  This study uses a hybrid large-scale data visualisation method to analyse public behaviour (epidemic concerns, self- protection, and mobility trends), using the data provided by multiple authorities. Meanwhile, a content analysis method is used to qualitatively code the health measures of three countries with severe early epidemic outbreaks from different continents, namely China, Italy, and the United States. Eight dimensions are coded to rate the mobility restrictions implemented in the above countries. Results  (۱) Governmental measures did not immediately persuade the public to change their behaviours during the COVID-۱۹ epidemic. Instead, the public behaviour proceeded in a three-phase rule, which is typically witnessed in an epidemic outbreak, namely the wait-and-see phase, the surge phase and the slow-release phase. (۲) The strictness of the mobility restrictions of the three countries can be ranked as follows: Hubei Province in China (with an average score of ۸.۵ out of ۱۰), Lombardy in Italy (۷.۱۲۵), and New York State in the United States (۵.۳۷۵). Strict mobility restrictions are more likely to cause a surge of population outflow from the epidemic area in the short term, whereas the effect of mobility restrictions is positively related to the stringency of policies in the long term. Conclusion  The public showed generally lawful behaviour during regional epidemic outbreaks and blockades. Meanwhile public behaviour was deeply affected by the actions of local governments, rather than the global pandemic situation. The contextual differences between the various countries are important factors that influence the effects of the different governments’ health measures.

Keywords:

COVID-۱۹ , Government Measure , Epidemic Management , Public behaviour , Mobility restriction , Large-Scale Data