Impact of Government Healthcare Policy Changes on Consumption and Human Movements During COVID-19: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis in Korea

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has altered daily behavioral patterns based on government healthcare policies, including consumption and movement patterns. We aimed to examine the extent to which changes in the government's healthcare policy have affected people's lives, primarily focusing on changes in consumption and population movements. Methods: We collected consumption data using weekly credit card transaction data from the Hana Card Corporation and population mobility data using mobile phone data from SK Telecom in Seoul, South Korea. Interrupted time-series analysis was used to calculate the relative risk ratio and perform the intervention effects when government healthcare policy changes. Results: We found that leisure and outside movements were the most immediately affected by changes in government healthcare policies. It took over 2 years and 11 months, respectively, for these sectors to return to their pre-COVID-19 routines. Conclusion: Enhancing healthcare policies presents advantages and disadvantages. Although such policies help prevent the spread of COVID-19, they also reduce consumption and mobility, extending the time needed to return to pre-COVID-19 levels. Government healthcare policymakers should consider not only disease prevention but also the impact of these policies on social behaviors, economic activity, and mobility.