Role of media coverage in mitigating COVID-19 transmission: Evidence from China

This paper evaluates the impact of COVID-19 media coverage in mitigating its spread China during early phase pandemic. We construct a provincial-level dataset on and link it with population mobility data, among other control variables, to estimate how mitigates COVID-19. Seemingly unrelated regressions are used examine simultaneous number new cases close contacts. The results show that effect transmission had an inverse-U curvature was mediated by within- across-province mobility. Our simulation indicate associated potential reduction 394,000 1.4 million contacts January 19 February 29, 2020. also provide strong support for use contact tracing transmission.