Yesterday, an important epidemiological study — Mobility network models of COVID-19 explain inequities and inform reopening — based on the hourly movements of 98 million people from neighborhoods to points of interest (POIs) such as restaurants and religious establishments was released.
The study “correctly predicts higher infection rates among disadvantaged racial and socioeconomic groups solely from differences in mobility” and concludes that “disadvantaged groups have not been able to reduce mobility as sharply.” We hope government officials use such information to give preferential vaccine distribution to disadvantaged groups.
The study also predicts that “a small minority of superspreader POIs account for a large majority of infections and that restricting maximum occupancy at each POI is more effective than uniformly reducing mobility.” We hope government officials use such information to target COVID-19 prevention policies that don’t unnecessarily prevent enterprises from operating, people from working, or children from attending schools.
