THE government’s orders for people to stay at home and maintain social distancing guidelines are largely being adhered to in Dorset, according to data released by Google.

Using data collected in Google Maps on residents’ personal devices, the company has been able to estimate how visits and the length of stays at different places have change compared to the norm.

Google’s COVID-19 Community Mobility Report has been published online for countries all around the world and provides localised breakdowns.

For Dorset, the latest report, which was published on April 2, showed that by March 29 there had been significant mobility drops in relation to retail and recreation, grocery and pharmacy, parks, transit stations and workplaces.

Meanwhile, mobility in residential settings had increased, which would be expected if more people are following the guidance and staying at home.

Google intend to provide updated reports as the pandemic continues.

The findings for Dorset in the initial report are as follows:

  • Retail and recreation: Mobility down 87 per cent compared to baseline
  • Grocery and pharmacy: Mobility down 47 per cent compared to baseline
  • Parks: Mobility down 57 per cent compared to baseline
  • Transit stations: Mobility down 70 per cent compared to baseline
  • Workplaces: Mobility down 57 per cent compared to baseline
  • Residential: Mobility up 15 per cent compared to baseline

The results for Dorset are largely in line with the UK findings over the same time period, which marked the end of the first week of the lockdown orders issued by prime minister Boris Johnson.

Prior to this point many of the region’s coastal areas had remained busy.

Over the past couple of weeks people appear to have been respecting the government’s guidance although Dorset Police are still carrying out extensive patrols and reports continue to surface over a small minority not following the measures in place.