Coronavirus: New data tracks Canberrans' slow return to normal life

Google's Community Mobility Report has been tracking public movement throughout the coronavirus pandemic since stay at home rules were imposed in March.

At the height of shut down in the ACT in March, movement in retail areas fell 40 per cent and public transport use plummeted 52 per cent compared to baseline levels in January and February.

Data to June 14 shows retail movement had improved, but remained 13 per cent below the same period.

Public transport use has remained a fraction of what it was before the pandemic, with a 41 per cent dip in human traffic.

In a sign people are slowly returning to the office, workplace movement was down nine per cent mid-June compared to a decline of 31 per cent in March.

Unsurprisingly, people have been spending more time at home, with an increase of 5 per cent from January, although almost twice that many people were staying home in March.

Canberrans have been enjoying parks and reserves throughout the start of winter, with a 27 per cent increase on January numbers.

On a national level however, public movement at parks and beaches has decreased 18 per cent.

Retail is making a slow and steady return to normal across the country. Movement in retail areas is down 16 per cent on baseline figures but up from a 40 per cent drop off in May.

The Northern Territory was the only jurisdiction to record an increase in retail movements, of 6 per cent, compared with a 22 per cent decrease in Victoria and 14 per cent decline in NSW.

However, Google said figures between states and territories shouldn't be used as a direct comparison as location accuracy and the categorisation of public places differed.