Influence of trip distance and population density on intra-city mobility patterns in Tokyo during COVID-19 pandemic

This study investigates the influence of infection cases of COVID-19 and two non-compulsory lockdowns on human mobility within the Tokyo metropolitan area. Using the data of hourly staying population in each 500mx500m cell and their city-level residency, we show that long-distance trips or trips to crowded places decrease significantly when infection cases increase. The same result holds for the two lockdowns, although the second lockdown was less effective. Hence, Japanese non-compulsory lockdowns influence mobility in a similar way to the increase in infection cases. This means that they are accepted as alarm triggers for people who are at risk of contracting COVID-19.

Automated summary

This study examines the impact of COVID-19 infection cases and two non-compulsory lockdowns on human mobility in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The findings suggest that as infection cases increase, there is a significant decrease in long-distance trips and trips to crowded places. The two non-compulsory lockdowns also have a similar effect on mobility, although the second lockdown is less effective.