Pandemic fatigue? Insights from road traffic in Hong Kong during COVID-19

During the COVID-19 pandemic, voluntary adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) was imperative to control the spread of the virus. The emergence of pandemic fatigue, however, may militate against public compliance with these interventions. Although existing literature has examined pandemic fatigue, little attention has been given to the spatio-temporal characteristics within a city. Focusing on the stay-at-home recommendation during COVID-19 in Hong Kong, this study employed road speed as a proxy to investigate pandemic fatigue. Temporally, the development of the pandemic and public concerns are investigated. Spatially, variables in four categories (i.e. socioeconomic, home environment, land use and COVID-related) are examined. Despite the same level of NPIs, changes in traffic were observed, indicating the emergence of pandemic fatigue. A positive correlation between adherence to NPIs and public interest in the ‘living with COVID’ policy is found. Spatially, areas with more older people demonstrated a high compliance rate. Findings suggest that by using road speed as a proxy for pandemic fatigue, potential factors in both spatial and temporal dimensions can be unveiled. Policy implications for future public health crises are also discussed. Copyright © 2025 Regional Studies Association.