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Cross-Country Comparison of Public Attention, Rumours, and Behavioural Responses to the COVID-19 Epidemic: An Internet Surveillance Study
22 Pages Posted: 22 May 2020
More...Abstract
Background: Using internet surveillance data, this study aimed to assess real-time public attention and behavioural responses to the COVID-19 epidemic across countries.
Methods: Internet surveillance was used to collect real-time data from the general public to assess public attention and rumours (China: Baidu; Worldwide: Google Trends) and behaviour response (China: Ali; Worldwide: Google Shopping). These indices measured the daily number of searching or purchasing, and were compared with daily COVID-19 cases. The trend comparisons across countries were observed from December 2019 (pre-pandemic baseline) to 11 April 2020 (when the lockdown lifted in Wuhan, China).
Findings: We identified the squandered windows of opportunity for early epidemic control in 12 countries, when public attention was very low despite the emerging epidemic. China's epidemic and PHEIC did not prompt a worldwide public reaction to adopt public health protective measures; instead, most only responded to the epidemic after case counts mounted in their own country/region. Rumours and misinformation led to a surge of sales in herbal remedies in China and antimalarial drugs worldwide, and timely clarification of rumours mitigated the rush to buy unproven remedies.
Interpretation: Our comparative study highlighted the urgency of international coordination to promote mutual learning on epidemic characteristics as well as effective control measures, and to trigger early and timely response in individual countries. The early release of official guidelines and timely clarification of rumours led by government are necessary to guide the public to take rational actions.
Funding Statement: ZH acknowledges financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 71874034).
Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Keywords: COVID-19, internet surveillance, Google Trends, public response, behaviour, rumour
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