GOOGLE is using location data gathered from phones to help public health officials understand how people’s movements have changed in response to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The reports use data from people who have opted in to storing their location history with Google to help illustrate the degree to which people are adhering to government instructions to stay at home and only make essential trips out.

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The Covid-19 Community Mobility Report dated April 17, 2020, looks at mobility figures in Reading from Friday, March 6, to Friday, April 17.

The data shows that between this time, retail and recreation - which comprises of places such as restaurants, cafes, shopping centres and libraries - saw an 83 per cent decrease.

Reading Chronicle:

Visits to grocery shops and pharmacies saw a 35 per cent decline and visits to public transport hubs such as bus and train stations saw an 84 per cent decline.

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Visits to parks has seen a drop by 29 per cent and visits to the workplace saw a decrease of 75 per cent.

The UK is preparing to enter its fifth week in lockdown, with people instructed to stay at home to curb the spread of coronavirus.