Reminders to promote social distancing have been ubiquitous throughout the COVID-19 crisis, but little is known about their effectiveness. We conducted a randomised trial in Denmark at the peak of the crisis to test different versions of a reminder to stay home. We measure impacts on both intentions to comply and subsequent actions (subjects reporting having stayed home in a follow-up survey). We find that reminders increase intentions to comply when they emphasise the consequences of non-compliance for the subjects themselves or their families. They have no impact when the emphasis is on other people or the country as a whole. Changes in intentions, however, do not translate into significant changes in actions (despite the possibility that self-reported compliance may be overstated). Compliance only increases among people in poor health. This shows that reminders can protect groups at risk by increasing their own distancing, but have lower impacts on those who are not in immediate danger and could spread the disease.

Do reminders to promote social distancing achieve the desired effects on behavior? Much of the existing literature analyses impacts on people’s intentions to comply. We run a randomised controlled trial in Denmark to test different versions of a reminder to stay home at the beginning of the crisis. Using a two-stage design, we follow up with recipients and analyse their subsequent self-reported behaviour. We find that the reminder increases ex-ante intentions to comply when it emphasises the consequences of non-compliance for the subjects themselves and their families, while it has no effect when the emphasis is on other people or the country as a whole. We also find, however, that impacts on intentions do not translate into equivalent impacts on actions. Only people in poor health react to the reminder by staying home significantly more. Our results shed light on important gaps between people’s intentions and their actions in responding to the recommendations of health authorities.

Do reminders to promote social distancing achieve the desired effects? Much of the existing literature analyses impacts on people's intentions to comply. We run a randomised controlled trial in Denmark to test different versions of a reminder to stay home at the beginning of the crisis. Using a two-stage design, we follow up with recipients and analyse their subsequent behaviour. We find that the reminder increases ex-ante intentions to comply when it emphasises the consequences of non-compliance for the subjects themselves and their families, while it has no effect when the emphasis is on other people or the country as a whole. We also find, however, that impacts on intentions do not translate into equivalent impacts on actions. This is despite the possibility that respondents may tend to over-report compliance. Only people in poor health react to the reminder by staying home more. Our results shed light on important gaps between people's intentions and their actions in responding to the recommendations of health authorities.

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