Assessment public interest towards COVID-19 during movement control order in Malaysia
List of Authors
  • Hazwan Mat Din , Raja Nurzatul Efah Raja Adnan

Keyword
  • coronavirus, infodemiology, social distancing

Abstract
  • In Malaysia, research on the public interest in COVID-19 are lacking. Using Google TrendsTM (GT) data, this study aimed to explore public interest toward covid-19 during the early time of Movement Control Order (MCO) and the practice of social distancing among Malaysian in combating COVID-19. A GT search for “COVID-19’ was performed and the Relative Search Volume (RSV) were compared to the number of reported COVID-19 cases, deaths and social distancing data. Malaysia reach its full public interest when the first deaths of COVID-19 were reported, approximately one day before the MCO. The trend was fluctuating until it started to drop drastically at the end of MCO Phase 1 and continued to decline until the end of Conditional MCO (CMCO). During the Pre-MCO, significant correlations exist between daily cases, daily deaths and GT. Social distancing data were significantly correlated with GT during the Pre-MCO indicating increased public awareness on the preventive measure before the start of MCO. Public interest measurement using GT can help to monitor the progression of COVID-19 in Malaysia. Continuous effort to create awareness and sustaining the public interest is a necessity to control the COVID-19 transmission.

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