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The relationship between new PCR positive cases and going out in public during the COVID-19 epidemic in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Hiromichi Takahashi
  • Iori Terada
  • Takuya Higuchi
  • Daisuke Takada
  • Jung-ho Shin
  • Susumu Kunisawa
  • Yuichi Imanaka

Abstract

The suppression of the first wave of COVID-19 in Japan is assumedly attributed to people’s increased risk perception after acquiring information from the government and media reports. In this study, going out in public amidst the spread of COVID-19 infections was investigated by examining new polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive cases of COVID-19 and its relationship to four indicators of people going out in public (the people flow, the index of web searches for going outside, the number of times people browse restaurants, and the number of hotel guests, from the Regional Economic and Social Analysis System (V-RESAS). Two waves of COVID-19 infections were examined using cross-correlation analysis. In the first wave, all four indicators of going out changed to be opposite the change in new PCR positive cases, showing a lag period of –1 to +6 weeks. In the second wave, the same relationship was only observed for the index of web searches for going outside, and two indicators showed the positive lag period of +6 to +12 weeks after the change in new PCR positive cases. Moreover, each indicator in the second wave changed differently compared to the first wave. The complexity of people’s behaviors around going out increased in the second wave, when policies and campaigns were implemented and people’s attitudes were thought to have changed. In conclusion, the results suggest that policies may have influenced people’s mobility, rather than the number of new PCR positive cases.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiromichi Takahashi & Iori Terada & Takuya Higuchi & Daisuke Takada & Jung-ho Shin & Susumu Kunisawa & Yuichi Imanaka, 2022. "The relationship between new PCR positive cases and going out in public during the COVID-19 epidemic in Japan," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(5), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0266342
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266342
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shoji, Masahiro & Cato, Susumu & Iida, Takashi & Ishida, Kenji & Ito, Asei & McElwain, Kenneth, 2020. "COVID-19 and Social Distancing in the Absence of Legal Enforcement: Survey Evidence from Japan," MPRA Paper 101968, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Lu Wang & Jie Yu & Dongmei Chen & Lixia Yang, 2021. "Relationships among COVID-19 Prevention Practices, Risk Perception and Individual Characteristics: A Temporal Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-14, October.
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