Research on the Influence of Information Diffusion on the Transmission of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Lin Shanlang; Ma Chao; Lin Ruofei; Huang Junpei; Xu Ruohan; Yuan Aini

This paper draws on the model of behavioral dynamics, uses econometric methods and high-frequency data such as new coronavirus epidemic data published by the National Health and Medical Commission, Baidu search index and Baidu migration index to explore the relationship between information diffusion and the spread of COVID-19 Relationship. Studies show that: Firstly, after fixing time and cities and controlling other variables that affect the spread of New Coronavirus, the spread of information significantly reduces the spread of COVID-19. After excluding Wuhan from the sample, the regression results are still robust. Secondly, two robustness tests of information classification and new confirmed diagnoses show that both the spread of epidemic information and self-protection information have significantly reduced the further spread of the COVID-19. This shows that when the epidemic occurs, the timely and accurate spread of information plays an important role in the prevention and control of the epidemic.