New data has confirmed the anecdotal reports of more people being out and about throughout County Clare.
A report by Google, which is based on anonymised data from mobile phones, has found that more people are going to shops, parks and workplaces, when compared with the start of the COVID-19 lockdown period.
Activity levels are still largely behind where they were before the coronavirus struck, however.
This data shows that the number of visits by shoppers to supermarkets and pharmacies is now virtually back to normal levels.
A snapshot of activity on April 30th, shows the number of Clare shoppers going to these stores was just 1% less than in January and February.
After coronavirus restrictions began in March, it was back 30%.
The numbers going to other stores and to parks has also grown, while the numbers staying at home has fallen, but for all of these areas fewer people are out and about than normal.
There’s also been a fall in the numbers going to workplaces – that had reduced by 58% last week, when compared with the beginning of the year, but this has spiked at higher levels earlier in April.
In all, the figures back up anecdotal reports that more people are on the move than had been the case when lockdown began, although activity levels have fallen when compared with the pre-COVID era.
In recent weeks, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tony Holohan warned against complacency in following guidelines, stating that it would take ‘very little’ to undo Ireland’s good work of battling the virus.
