Citi Research's 'Social Distancing Index' shows that, as of April 11, 2020, Lebanon's general mobility contracted by 56% relative to the period extending from January 3 to February 6, 2020, as a result of the social distancing measures amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Citi defines general mobility as the movement of individuals within or between different locations in a country. The decrease in the mobility level in Lebanon shows that residents have been under tighter social distancing measures than countries globally (-43%), in emerging markets (-49%), and in the Middle East & Africa (ME&A) region (-53%). 
 
The index measures the degree of social distancing implemented across countries and regions worldwide in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus. It is based on the results of the Google COVID-19 Mobility Report, which provides mobility trends for people's frequency of visits and length of stay at retail and recreational areas, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential locations. It then compares these trends as of April 11 to the baseline period, which is the median mobility level between January 3 and February 6, 2020. The index is the simple average of four factors that are Retail & Recreation, Transit Stations, Workplaces, and Grocery & Pharmacy. A lower score on the index implies more social distancing, while a higher score reflects less social distancing. 

The mobility of the residents of Lebanon for the Retail & Recreation category declined by 65% on April 11 from the baseline period, compared to retreats of 57% globally, of 62% among emerging markets, and of 66% in the ME&A region. This category measures the movement of people to places like restaurants, cafés, shopping centers, theme parks, museums, libraries, and movie theaters. 

Further, the movement of the residents of Lebanon under the Grocery & Pharmacy category, which includes places like grocery markets, food warehouses, farmers markets, specialty food shops, drug stores, and pharmacies, dropped by 31% from the January 3-February 6 period, relative to contractions of 18% worldwide, of 32% among emerging markets, and of 35% in the ME&A region. In parallel, the mobility of Lebanese residents to parks, including marinas and public gardens, decreased by 45% from the baseline period, compared to contractions of 27% globally, of 47% among emerging markets, and of 55% in the ME&A region. 

Also, the mobility of the residents of Lebanon under the Transit Stations sector, which includes the usage of public transportation, contracted by 78% from the January 3-February 6 period, relative to retreats of 57% worldwide, of 60% among emerging markets, and of 66% in the ME&A region. In addition, the mobility of Lebanese residents to workplaces shrank by 48% from the baseline period, compared to contractions of 41% globally and of 43% in emerging markets and the ME&A region. In contrast, the movement of Lebanese residents to places of residence rose by 16% on April 11 from the January 3-February 6 period, relative to increases of 17% globally and of 21% in emerging markets and the ME&A region.