Lockdown Buddies are top for sticking to rules
Buddies are among the best in Scotland when it comes to complying with the lockdown rules, new research has shown.
Covid- 19 Community Mobility Reports, compiled by Google, show that people across Renfrewshire are staying within their communities when it comes to exercising once a day.
Data – gathered by Google through the location settings on people’s phones – shows that activity around Renfrewshire’s residential areas has increased by 29 per cent – the highest increase in Scotland.
The findings indicate that people are abiding by the UK and Scottish Government restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus.
This is in contrast to some of Renfrewshire’s closest neighbours, with movement in residential areas only up by 19 per cent in East Renfrewshire and 15 per cent in Inverclyde.
It is almost twice the UK average, which also sits at 15 per cent.
Renfrewshire Council leader Iain Nicolson said: “It’s welcome news that local people are following the government advice to stay at home as this is saving lives and protecting our NHS.
“It’s important that, when taking your daily exercise, you stay in your local area and don’t drive to go for a walk – unless this has been advised for certain medical conditions or disabilities.
“I recognise this is a difficult time for everyone, but it is through following the latest advice and guidance that we will come out of this stronger, so please continue to stay home and stay safe.”
The Renfrewshire mobility report also shows that people are staying off public transport, with hubs such as Paisley Gilmour Street and other major stations seeing a drop in footfall of 84 per cent.
Places like restaurants, cafes, shopping centres, museums, libraries and cinemas across the county have also seen footfall drop by 86 per cent – the same as the UK average, while trips to supermarkets, food stores and pharmacies are down by 39 per cent.
Mo v e m e n t around workplaces in Renfrewshire has fallen by 58 per cent, which shows people are being forced to stay off work, or are working from home.
That figure too is largely in line with the UK average, which saw activity at workplaces fall by 55 per cent.
Google collated the statistics using anonymised data from people who opted in to location history on their phones.
The phone setting allowed the company to track people’s movements and determine if they were abiding by lockdown rules.
It’s important that, when taking your daily exercise, you stay in your local area