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.

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The Covid-19 Community Mobility Report dated October 20, 2020, looks at data between Tuesday, September 8, and Tuesday, October 20.

The data shows there has been a 24 per cent increase in the number of people visiting parks compared to the baseline.

Visits to residential areas has also increased by 16 per cent compared to the baseline.

Fewer people are using public transport (a 56 per cent decrease compared to the baseline) and workplaces (a 44 per cent decrease compared to the baseline).

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Retail and recreation which comprises of restaurants, cafes and shopping centres has seen a drop in visitors too (32 per cent compared to the baseline).

In the governments three tier coronavirus system, Reading is currently in tier one at ‘medium’ alert level, the lowest of the three Covid-19 tiers with the least tight restrictions.

Restrictions include 10pm curfews for pubs, bars and restaurants and the rule of six.