COVID-19 lockdown induces disease-mitigating structural changes in mobility networks

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012326117
• Publication Date: 2020-12-04T01:00:28Z
• Authors: Frank Schlosser; Benjamin F. Maier; Olivia Jack; David Hinrichs; Adrian Zachariae; Dirk Brockmann
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Physics - Physics and Society; 610; FOS: Physical sciences; Physics and Society (physics.soc-ph); 03 medical and health sciences; Germany; Humans; human mobility; ddc:610; Quantitative Biology - Populations and Evolution; Pandemics; mobile phones; ddc:610; Spatial Analysis; Travel; 0303 health sciences; Multidisciplinary; 9. Industry and infrastructure; Populations and Evolution (q-bio.PE); COVID-19; 3. Good health; FOS: Biological sciences; Physical Sciences; Quarantine; 610 Medizin und Gesundheit; Cell Phone

Significance During the COVID-19 pandemic, mobility restrictions have proved to be an effective mitigation strategy in many countries. To apply these measures more efficiently in the future, it is important to understand their effects in detail. In this study, we use mobile phone data to uncover profound structural changes in mobility in Germany during the pandemic. We find that a strong reduction of long-distance travel rendered mobility to be more local, such that distant parts of the country became less connected. We demonstrate that due to this loss of connectivity, infectious diseases can be slowed down in their spatial spread. Our study provides important insights into the complex effects of mobility restrictions for policymakers and future research.