Student returnees from China's COVID-19 epicenter: Spatio-temporal movement and impact of tracing

Ding Fei, Chuan Liao and Huan Yang

Social Science & Medicine, 2021, vol. 287, issue C

Abstract: At the initial stage of COVID-19 outbreak, tracing returnees from Wuhan – the epicenter of the disease – is a major strategy in each province of China to contain its spread. However, scholars are yet to assess the impact of tracing on individuals. Drawing upon a large-scale survey with students from four major universities in Wuhan, we investigate individual experiences with tracing activities at government and community levels and the impacts on students’ socio-psychological wellbeing. Findings indicate that tracing is likely to increase the risks of privacy infringement, verbal slur, and warning at residence; and students experience moderate-to-high levels of anxiety and fear. Improved public health measures are therefore necessary to balance the twin goals of containing disease and alleviating unintended consequences of tracing.

Keywords: COVID-19; Tracing; Spatio-temporal movements; Socio-psychological impacts; Wuhan-returned students (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114371

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