Effect of COVID-19 driven lockdown on social contact pattern in Puducherry, India: A longitudinal study

• Published in: Journal of postgraduate medicine (Bombay) 2022-07, Vol.68 (3), p.138-147
• Main Authors: Kar, S, Krishnamoorthy, Y, Sivanantham, P, Anandraj, J, Gnanadhas, J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Longitudinal studies; Original
• ISSN: 0022-3859; 0972-2823
• DOI: 10.4103/jpgm.jpgm_1085_21

Objective: This study was undertaken to assess the change in social contact and transmission dynamics among adults in the Puducherry district during the different phases of country-wide lockdown. Methods: Adults aged 18-69 years in Puducherry were assessed for frequency and duration of contacts in the following time points: prior to lockdown (March 2020), during lockdown, immediate post-lockdown (April, June 2020), and seven months post-lockdown (February 2021). Adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) were obtained using a generalized estimating equation. We also assessed the exponential trajectory of the time-varying reproduction number (Rt) during and after lockdown. Results: Compared to pre-lockdown phase, frequency of social contacts during 1st week, 4th week of lockdown, and immediate post-lockdown were reduced by 89% (aIRR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.09-0.13), 40% (aIRR = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.52-0.69) and 91% (aIRR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.07-0.10) respectively. However, the decline was not statistically significant at seven months post-lockdown. Correspondingly, we observed an initial spike in Rt during the lockdown phase followed by a gradual decline during the immediate post-lockdown phase. However, seven months post-lockdown, Rt has increased again. Conclusion: The study showed high compliance to the lockdown measures in Puducherry during the lockdown and immediate post-lockdown periods. However, as the lockdown measures were relaxed, the contact rate returned to the pre-lockdown state.