Are We Social Distancing Enough in the Tampa Bay? Google Helps Us Find Out
Coronavirus has impacted every aspect of all of our lives. But just how seriously are we taking social distancing in Florida, Hillsborough County and the rest of the Tampa Bay region?
Google announced today that it has released the “COVID-19 Community Mobility Report,” to help individuals and government officihttps://myq105.com/tag/tampa-bay/als understand whether people are paying much attention to social distancing.
Here’s how it works to measure social distancing in Tampa Bay: Because our mobile devices generally always have location services turned on, Google is able to get a general picture of where people are going. This is why you’re able to see specific ads delivered to your phone based on stores you might go to, or other things you might be doing. In this case, Google has taken all that information and combined everyone in a particular area together to see what their habits have been since officials started recommending we socially distance, and stay at home.
“Location accuracy and the understanding of categorized places varies from region to region, so we don’t recommend using this data to compare changes between countries, or between regions with different characteristics (e.g. rural versus urban areas),” Google said in the report. So basically, don’t compare what’s happening in New York City to what might be happening in Bladen County. It’s just not the same.
So what’s happened with social distancing in Tampa Bay and? Let’s take a look (You can view the Florida county-by-county report by clicking here if you’d like):
Florida
- RETAIL & RECREATION: First, in Florida as a whole, people are doing about 50 percent LESS retail and recreation-related travel. That’s things like restaurants, shopping centers, museums, movie theaters, etc.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: When it comes to grocery and pharmacy shopping, Floridians are doing about 26 percent LESS travel than normal. I
- PARKS: What about people going to parks and beaches, etc. Well, in FL, people are going about 48 percent MORE to these places than normal.
- WORKPLACES: And how about workplaces in FL? No surprise that with most people having to be home now, travel to workplaces is DOWN about 41 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: No shock, people are traveling to places of residence about 13 percent MORE now. The number is likely not higher because most people are just there already and not having to travel.
- WHAT DOES THAT MEAN: This generally means a good chunk of people are taking this seriously in the state of Florida, but there’s probably still a bit too much out and about going on. That’s why we’re seeing increased measures being put in place on the statewide Stay At Home order.
Hillsborough County
- RETAIL & RECREATION: Coming in at 52 percent LESS than normal on this travel here.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: We’re only about 30 percent less than normal here.
- PARKS: Residents are going to parks about 53 percent less to than normal.
- WORKPLACES: We’re right in line with the state here, as travel to workplaces is DOWN about 42 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: And travel to residences about 14 percent MORE now.
Pacso County
- RETAIL & RECREATION: Folks in the area are doing 40 percent less of this than normal.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: Coming in at about 24 percent less than normal here.
- PARKS: Residents are going to parks about 10 percent less to than normal.
- WORKPLACES: We’re seeing travel to workplaces is DOWN about 35 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: And travel to residences about 11 percent MORE now.
Pinellas County
- RETAIL & RECREATION: Coming in at 51 percent less of this than normal.
- GROCERY & PHARMACY: We’re only about 25 percent less than normal here.
- PARKS: Residents are going to parks about 16 percent less to than normal.
- WORKPLACES: We’re seeing travel to workplaces is DOWN about 39 percent below the normal now.
- RESIDENTIAL: And travel to residences about 12 percent MORE now.
