biostudies-literaturePark MCOVID-19European Research CouncilSingapore Population Health Improvement CentreEPSRC Impact Acceleration Grant9790275https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9629684biostudies-literatureUnknown2021<h4>Background</h4>Limited evidence on the effectiveness of various types of social distancing measures, from voluntary physical distancing to a community-wide quarantine, exists for the Western Pacific Region (WPR) which has large urban and rural populations.<h4>Methods</h4>We estimated the time-varying reproduction number (<i>R</i> _<i>t</i> ) in a Bayesian framework using district-level mobility data provided by Facebook (i) to assess how various social distancing policies have contributed to the reduction in transmissibility of SARS-COV-2 and (ii) to examine within-country variations in behavioural responses, quantified by reductions in mobility, for urban and rural areas.<h4>Results</h4>Social distancing measures were largely effective in reducing transmissibility, with <i>RHealth data scienceUrban-Rural Disparities for COVID-19: Evidence from 10 Countries and Areas in the Western Pacific.PMC9629684COVID19RF-004804744NMRC/CG/C026/2017_NUHSRG90413Lim JTCook ARDickens BLPark MWang LfalseUrban-Rural Disparities for COVID-19: Evidence from 10 Countries and Areas in the Western Pacific.<h4>Background</h4>Limited evidence on the effectiveness of various types of social distancing measures, from voluntary physical distancing to a community-wide quarantine, exists for the Western Pacific Region (WPR) which has large urban and rural populations.<h4>Methods</h4>We estimated the time-varying reproduction number (<i>R</i> _<i>t</i> ) in a Bayesian framework using district-level mobility data provided by Facebook (i) to assess how various social distancing policies have contributed to the reduction in transmissibility of SARS-COV-2 and (ii) to examine within-country variations in behavioural responses, quantified by reductions in mobility, for urban and rural areas.<h4>Results</h4>Social distancing measures were largely effective in reducing transmissibility, with <i>R2021-01-01T00:00:00Z20212026-07-14T23:17:29.882Z2025-04-06T21:49:36.402ZS-EPMC96296843640535410.34133/2021/9790275