人群移动和接触率在形成传染病（例如COVID-19）的传播模式方面起着根本作用。因此，流动资料被用作衡量干预措施有效性的代理，例如留在家中的命令和其他社会疏远措施。这一主题旨在建立人类流动与疾病传播之间的关系，以便在不同的干预情况下类比疾病传播。由于流动性与个人的年龄及其社会经济地位密切相关，因此应调查与移动性和移动网路有关的更多细节。这些发现可能有助于制定针对某些社区和人群的更相关的公共卫生政策。

另一方面，关于疾病传播的错误资讯的传播可能会影响人们的预防/健康行为、战胜疾病的信心和对政府的信任。应充分了解这种动态，以促进预防性决策。

项目：

评估和实施非药物干预措施以避免COVID-19反弹: 利用大资料和小资料考虑人的移动、接触和行为变化 (2021-2022)
项目来源：香港研资局合作研究基金（C4139-20GF）
专案统筹者：黄波教授

In this proposed project, we aim to overcome the abovementioned problems by developing methods to derive social contacts directly from anonymized population-level mobility data.

We will thus measure the intensity of physical distancing in terms of mobility data and derived social contacts data, using Wuhan and other Chinese cities as study areas. We also propose to conduct online surveys to collect data on human contact and behavior before, during and after the COVID-19 outbreak. These data will be integrated with the above big mobility data and incorporated into a modified susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) model to simulate the effect of various scenarios of government interventions. 

This proposed project will ultimately provide a novel methodology by which spatial mobility and human behavioral data can be processed and analyzed to yield a more precise modeling of COVID-19 transmission, and strategies and evidence to guide COVID-19 interventions and preparedness across the world during the post-lockdown period.

新冠病毒资讯在四个华人社会传播之比较研究： (假)传播、信任与资讯环境如何影响华人对抗疫情 (2021-2023)
项目来源：香港研资局合作研究基金（C4158-20GF）
专案统筹者：魏然教授

A hallmark of the COVID-19 global pandemic is rising infodemics, which refers to “information epidemics” or “epidemics of rumors”—“the rapid dispersal of information of all kinds, including rumors, gossip, and unreliable information” spread “instantly and internationally” through communication technologies such as mobile phones, social media, and the Internet. The “over-abundance of information” that makes it hard for the general public “to find trustworthy sources and reliable guidance when they need it”. Infodemics often appear to be mis, dis and mal-information. Like a virus itself, infodemics can cause public distrust, panic, and fear. This project aims to take a holistic approach to examine the emergence and spread of false and misleading information about the COVID-19 pandemic on digital media in four Chinese societies: Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. It also explores how some widely diffused informedic messages on social media affect the publics’ perceived risks and measures taken to protect themselves. Methodologically, we combine big data analytics with social scientific research methods such as surveys and focus groups to explore, clarify, and theorize the dynamics of infodemic diffusion during the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes the dimensions of emergence, diffusion, and consequences. Based on the proposed model and empirical evidences, the deliverables of this project include (1) valuable and immediate policy suggestions to spot and contain infodemic messages at the early stage of a public health crisis; (2) a user-friendly online application to monitor future emerging infectious diseases; (3) policy recommendations for containing and countering the COVID-19 infodemics with correction messages.

共同负责人：