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 November 6 looks at data between Friday, September 25, and Friday, November 6, 2020.

The data shows visits made to retail and recreation areas saw a drop of 67 per cent compared to the baseline.

Visits to supermarkets and pharmacies also decreased by 16 per cent compared to the baseline.

However, more people visited parks which saw a 22 per cent increase in visits.

Residential visits also increased by 21 per cent.

Conversely, fewer people visited workplaces during this time.

This area saw a 48 per cent decrease in visitors.

Also, fewer people used public transport such as buses and trains.

This decreased by a total of 67 per cent compared to the baseline.

England is currently in Lockdown 2.0 which will last until Wednesday, December 2.

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The first Covid-19 vaccine has been announced by German pharmaceutical company Pfizer who state it could offer 90 per cent protection from the virus.

Potentially available within weeks the companies developing the vaccine plan to apply for emergency approval to use the vaccine by the end of the month.