Spring 2020 COVID-19 Community Transmission Behaviours Around New York City Medical Facilities

Kingsbury Lee, Sophie-An; Laefer, Debra F.

BACKGROUND Epidemiological studies have long been used to develop infection transmission prevention, but exact patterns of touch behaviours and transportation choices (COVID-19 community spread contributors) were previously unknown. AIM To investigate individual risk behaviour levels with respect to local COVID-19 infection levels. METHODS A longitudinal field study recorded behaviours of individuals leaving medical facilities following the New York State’s PAUSE order. A subset of that data was analyzed herein (4,793 records, 16 facilities, 23rd March – 17th May 2020). Touched objects and transportation choices were compared over time using chi-square tests (p < 0.05 significance threshold). FINDINGS Over eight weeks, touching progressively decreased but for-hire vehicle usage increased. In week 1, 60.4% of subjects touched at least one object: a building’s door handle (21.8%); traffic light, railing, or parking meter (5.6%); shared object (19.7%, e.g. vehicle’s door handle); personal object (13.9%, e.g. cell phone); or themselves (0.7%). Certain touch points, however, remained. Throughout the study, public transportation ridership remained steady (about 20%); for-hire car usage increased from 0% in week one to 7% in week eight, mirroring a 7% decrease in personal vehicle usage (from 34% to 27%). Touching and transportation patterns varied significantly by facility. CONCLUSIONS Inconsistent trends in risk related behaviour were documented in the eight weeks following a NYC PAUSE order. Namely, while overall touching decreased 25%, there was no appreciable change in cell phone usage, and for-hire vehicles usage increased 7%.