This study assessed how people in Japan responded to the COVID-19 outbreak during its early stages using a nationwide retrospective panel survey. The study focused on changes in daily activities, travel behavior, and attitudes, considering factors like information reliability and risk perception. Results indicated that poor public communication was linked to the virus's spread, highlighting the need for effective interventions focused on social networks and differentiated communication strategies. A LASTING approach (Life-oriented Activity-Space-Time) is proposed to encourage voluntary behavioral modifications.

Junyi Zhang