Social distancing compliance: A video observational analysis

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248221
• Publication Date: 2021-03-15T17:34:06Z
• Authors: Evelien M. Hoeben; Wim Bernasco; Lasse Suonperä Li...; Carlijn van Baak; Marie Rosenkrantz...
• Keywords: Social distance; Distancing; Pandemic; Isolation

Purpose Virus epidemics may be mitigated if people comply with directives to stay at home and keep their distance from strangers in public. As such, there is a public health interest social distancing compliance. The available evidence on practices space limited, however, by the lack of observational data. Here, we apply video observation as method examine what extent members directives. Data Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage interactions was collected inner-city Amsterdam, Netherlands. From footage, observed instances violating 1.5-meter weeks before, during, after these were introduced mitigate COVID-19 pandemic. Results We find that complied when first introduced, but level compliance started decline soon after. also violation strongly associated number street non-compliance stay-at-home directives, operationalized large-scale aggregated location data cell phones. All three measures correlate varying temporal patterns transmission virus, temperature, related Google search queries, media attention topic. Conclusion Compliance 1.5 meter short-lived coincides Potential implications findings are keep- work best combination place-specific crowd-control strategies, community-wide mobility captured phone offer easily measurable proxies for which sufficient physical others specific times locations.