Covid-19: Europe’s north-south lockdown divide revealed by Google data


FILE PHOTO A woman walks on the Ponte Sisto with her daughter in the Trastevere district as the spread of coronavirus disease COVID-19 continues in Rome Italy April 2 2020. REUTERSAlberto LingriaFile Photo

A woman walks on the Ponte Sisto with her daughter in the Trastevere district as the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) continues, in Rome, Italy. In Italy and Spain, which have imposed near-total lockdowns on public life, retail and recreational trips were down by 94%. — Reuters

BERLIN: Italy and Spain, the two European countries hardest hit by the new coronavirus, have enforced the most drastic lockdowns to curb the pandemic but one country, Sweden, stands out for allowing life to go on much as before, Google data show.

An analysis of smartphone location data by the US search engine giant showed that visits to shops, parks or railway stations fell steeply in most European countries between Feb 16 and March 29 as governments sought to slow the explosive spread of the Covid-19 disease.

Save 30% and win Bosch appliances! More Info

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month
RM9.73 only

Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters.

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month
RM8.63/month

Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Others Also Read


Want to listen to full audio?

Unlock unlimited access to enjoy personalise features on the TheStar.com.my

Already a member? Log In