Google Data shows 40% drop in people going to stores and workplaces in El Paso County
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Google has released new data showing the where people in Colorado are traveling to during the stay-at-home order for COVID-19.
Overall, the state has seen declines in traffic at stores, workplaces, transit stations, and even parks since March. However, there's been a 14 percent boost in activity at places of residence in Colorado.
The tech giant says its "community mobility reports" use aggregated, anonymous data that tracks where people are going. The results give a glimpse into how seriously Coloradans are taking the stay-at-home order.
The reports show graphs accounting for each state and even individual counties where there was enough data. Google charted the movement trends over time in six different types of places: retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.
Within El Paso County, there's more online activity happening at parks and residential areas. But retail, transit stations and workplaces have seen the largest declines, ranging between 39 and 45 percent less activity.
Grocery stores and pharmacies only saw an 8 percent decline, suggesting residents in El Paso County are still cautiously going out to get necessary supplies.
Scott Abbott, the regional parks, trails and open space manager, says he's not surprised to see more people outside.
“Seemingly as one of the only things left in town to do — on top of an already phenomenal park system that we have — it doesn’t surprise us,” he said.
However, Abbott says people should still follow CDC guidelines and practice social distancing as much as possible.
“We cannot guarantee that people are going to be able to keep a six-foot distance on an 18-inch wide trail," Abbott said. "We really want to encourage people to make really good judgement and common sense, and really communicate with each other.”
The state of Colorado has also started a website to track how busy local parks and trails are throughout the day. Abbott says there are 10 rangers who are monitoring traffic levels in Colorado Springs.
