City-Specific Effects of Lifting Mobility Restrictions — China, February–March 2020

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? Government used mobility restrictions to help contain the first wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across cities in China. The restrictions were lifted during times of non-zero incidence in response to a return to work order that went into effect on February 10, 2020. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? The effect of lifting mobility restrictions on COVID-19 death rate and incidence varied by city, with smaller increases or even reductions in cities with low community connectivity and small floating volume, and larger increases in cities with high community connectivity and large floating volume. Effects on recovery rates were similar across cities. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE? City-specific mobility restriction lifting is likely to be beneficial. Two indexes, community connectivity and floating volume, can inform the design of city-specific mobility restriction lifting policies.