Individuals living in poorer and less affluent neighborhoods spent less time at home during various COVID-19 lockdown orders, according to a new international study. After analyzing mobile data on millions of U.S. citizens, study authors say poorer families and households were unable to comply with pandemic safety recommendations as diligently as others due to financial and or employment-related considerations.
More specifically, researchers suggest such individuals had to venture outside either because they simply couldn’t afford to stay home or due to employment requiring on-site attendance. Considering that health officials already consider the vulnerable and poor to be at a higher risk for COVID-19, these findings are particularly troubling.
Sicheng Wang, a recent graduate of the Bloustein School’s Ph.D. program is a co-author of the study.