Analysis of Mobility Changes Caused by COVID-19 in a Context of Moderate Restrictions Using Data Collected by Mobile Devices

Sara Paiva,Filipa Mourao,David Melendi,Roberto Garcia,Victor Corcoba,Xabiel G Paneda

doi:10.1109/access.2022.3141083

Sara Paiva, Filipa Mourao + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2022.3141083

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Abstract

Since its inception, COVID-19 has changed several dynamics in society, both on a personal and professional level. Mobility was one of the most affected aspects, as a result of the necessary social distancing and preventive measures that had to be enacted by the various countries and which restricted, at various times, freedom of movement. The impact that COVID-19 had, and still has, on mobility is important to be understood so that the necessary measures can be taken in order to return to normality and, for example, not regress in the steps that were being taken in encouraging the use of public transport as a measure to combat the carbon footprint as well as traffic congestion in cities. This paper intends to analyze the reality of Spain and Portugal, in the period between May 10th and July 2nd, 2021, in which both countries had already finished restricting mobility measures. The study used data from Google Community Mobility Reports and was done by regions, taking into account the average age of inhabitants and the number of inhabitants in each region. The analysis focused on different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential. One of the main conclusions of this study is the lower use of public transports for fear of a greater risk of infection. This could be a problem in the medium term if this trend continues. On the other hand, it is important to highlight a greater presence in parks after the end of the lockdown, which promotes healthy habits that combat problems such as overweight or obesity. COVID-19 can be seen as an opportunity to promote more active mobility through the creation of infrastructure, such as for bicycles.

Highlights

COVID-19 first emerged in Hubei province, in China, after a cluster of viral pneumonia cases of unknown cause [1], [2]
In Spain, it is in the more aging regions where there is a higher increase in mobility compared to the prepandemic period. This does not happen in the case of Portugal, where the greatest increase is in regions whose average age is in the middle;
Regarding mobility at transit stations we have found significant differences between the groups and, in all of them, mobility is lower than the baseline in both countries

Summary

Introduction

COVID-19 first emerged in Hubei province, in China, after a cluster of viral pneumonia cases of unknown cause [1], [2]. Given the high levels of contagion and seriousness of the cases detected so far, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared, on March 11, 2020, COVID-19 as a pandemic [3]. As of September 7, 2021, there were approximately 220 million confirmed cases worldwide and approximately 4.5 million deaths from COVID-19 [6]. There has been a very strong impact in Italy, which became the first country to report cases in mid-February. At the end of the month, cases started to appear in other European countries such as Spain or Portugal

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