## Together Again: Physical Distancing on the Decline

_IMF Blog, November 12, 2020_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Together Again: Physical Distancing on the Decline](https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2020/11/12/together-again-physical-distancing-on-the-decline)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/blogs/articles/2020/11/12/together-again-physical-distancing-on-the-decline/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/blogs/articles/2020/11/12/together-again-physical-distancing-on-the-decline/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/blogs/articles/2020/11/12/together-again-physical-distancing-on-the-decline/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: Getty Images)WomenTogether Again: Physical Distancing on the DeclineNovember 12, Frederico Lima, Hibah Khan
- Published: November 12, 2020

---

### Overview
- Publication date: November 12, 2020
- Authors: Era Dabla-Norris, Frederico Lima, and Hibah Khan
- Main finding: As COVID-19 outbreaks ebbed and lockdowns eased over the summer, mobility increased and self-reported compliance with recommended COVID-19 behaviors declined across many advanced and emerging economies.

### Trends in behaviors and mobility
- Mobility measures (such as Google Community Mobility Reports) showed increased movement after lockdowns eased.
- Self-reported behaviors through September indicate:
  - More people reported attending small social gatherings in September compared to March and April.
  - Fewer people reported working from home in September compared to March and April.
  - Significantly higher rates of reported mask wearing in September, particularly in countries where public mask wearing was initially not common.
- Drivers of lower compliance noted in the text:
  - Government relaxation of restrictive lockdowns, including allowing shops, restaurants, and other service-sector businesses to re-open.
  - Fatigue and complacency with COVID-19 restrictions, especially among younger people and other lower-risk groups.
- Behavioral balancing observed: Many people sought to balance recommended behaviors with needs to return to work, care for family members, and maintain social contacts.

### Demographic and attitudinal differences
- Gender:
  - Women consistently reported higher adoption of physical distancing than men, even after accounting for employment status, household size, and number of children.
  - This pattern is noted as consistent with findings that women are more risk averse than men.
- Age and risk status:
  - Older people and other at-risk groups reported higher adoption of recommended behaviors.
- Trust:
  - People who trust their government’s response to COVID-19 were more likely to adopt recommended behaviors.
  - Trust in government response appears to have declined in several countries, especially those with more severe COVID-19 outbreaks.

### Implications and challenges
- The combination of eroding trust in government responses and declining compliance with recommended behaviors is likely to create challenges in the months ahead.
- These challenges are particularly salient as many countries face the possibility—and in some cases already the reality—of new COVID-19 outbreaks.

*Together Again: Physical Distancing on the Decline, November 12, 2020; Era Dabla-Norris, Frederico Lima, and Hibah Khan.*

---


## References

- [Era Dabla-Norris](https://blogs.imf.org/bloggers/era-dabla-norris/)
- [Frederico Lima](https://blogs.imf.org/bloggers/frederico-lima/)
- [Hibah Khan](https://blogs.imf.org/bloggers/hibah-khan/)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/blogs/articles/2020/11/12/together-again-physical-distancing-on-the-decline_