Association between traffic inflow and COVID-19 prevalence at the provincial level in South Korea

International Journal of Infectious Diseases

卷:108

Eunbi Noh¹  Eun Woo Nam¹  Huiwon Jeon²  Hocheol Lee² 

[1] Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea;

[2] Department of Health Administration, Yonsei University Graduate School, Wonju, Gangwon-do, Republic of Korea;

关键词: Traffic;    COVID-19;    TCS;    Social distancing;    South Korea;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Objectives: To analyze the relationship between traffic inflow and COVID-19 prevalence in South Korea for formulating prevention policies for novel infections. Methods: We evaluated traffic inflow and new COVID-19 cases in 8 regions of Korea from January 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. The toll collection system (TCS) traffic volume for 2019–2020 and traffic inflow trends were analyzed using independent samples t-test and nonlinear regression, respectively. The association between TCS traffic volume and new COVID-19 cases by city was analyzed using correlation analysis. Results: Traffic inflow volume in 2020 decreased 3.7% from 2019. The TCS traffic inflow trend in the 8 provinces decreased during the first COVID-19 wave, gradually increased until the second wave, decreased after the second wave, and showed a sharp decrease in the third wave. There was a positive correlation between the traffic inflow volume and new cases in Busan-Gyeongnam and Jeonbuk, but not in Daegu-Gyeongbuk or Gangwon. Conclusions: A decrease in new COVID-19 cases in the regions was associated with increased traffic inflow volume. Therefore, the Korean government can establish preventive social distancing policies by identifying increases or decreases in traffic volume. These policies will also need to consider the distribution of vaccines in each area.

【 授权许可】

Unknown