More Victorians revealed to be doing the right thing in lockdown
In a move that signals hope for driving down the daily numbers of coronavirus, movement data from Google reveals Victorians have been heeding strict lockdown measures, spending hours longer in their homes each day.
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Shops, parks, workplaces and public transport are being shunned as evidence mounts that Victorians are heeding strict lockdown measures.
The latest movement data reveals residents are spending hours longer in their homes each day in a move experts believe is responsible for the rapidly improving daily case numbers.
After the number of shoppers attending retail and recreation settings reached almost pre-COVID levels in mid June, they have now plummeted to 56 per cent below baseline activity under Stage Four restrictions.
Google movement data also reveals attendance at workplaces has been cut in half, as has time spent in parks.
The time spent on public transport is down 77 per cent, while supermarket visits are also down 26 per cent even though essentially shopping is still permitted.
The movement data, collected by Google from phones during the pandemic, has been provided to the Department of Health to help track people and guide lockdown decisions.
Victroria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the latest data was encouraging.
“We are seeing it at the lowest levels that we have had since April,” Prof Sutton said.
“Very substantially down 90 per cent in the CBD, more than 60 per cent across Melbourne, and that carries through all hours especially post-curfew.”
On average, Victorians are now spending 25 per cent more time in their homes each day than before coronavirus struck, earning praise from Premier Daniel Andrews.
“I am very, very proud I want to congratulate all those Victorians. I think there are a growing number of Victorians who are doing the right thing,” Mr Andrews said.
“We are seeing the best of Victorians at the moment.
“We are staying apart, but we are unified, we are strong (and) we are looking out for each other.
“We are going to beat this thing.”
Movement data reports for other states show residents in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia have returned to almost normal levels of activities, while those in the Northern Territory are out and about even more than usual.
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