The geolocation data collected, anonymously, by Apple and Google prove that the second confinement is less strict than the first.

The French go out more, take more transport and go to shops more than in March.

It is also a sign that the threat of the coronavirus is perceived differently.

DECRYPTION

Is this confinement really a confinement?

You may have asked yourself the question in recent days… There are people on the road, in the metro, in the street, in stores, in any case those that can open.

And it's not just an impression.

This is shown by the tons of data collected by Google and Apple, via our phones, on our movements and frequentation of certain places.

Anonymized data which clearly shows that the second confinement is less strict than the first and that the behavior of the French in the face of the circulation of the coronavirus has evolved in seven months.

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Twice as many car trips as during the first confinement

First, thanks to data from Apple, we see that the second confinement is looser than the first.

The Californian giant is amassing route requests made by users in its Maps guidance application.

From a reference day, in this case January 13, 2020 (which serves as a "base 100"), these data make it possible to measure the evolution of the number of trips over a given period.

As a result, we observe that in March, during the first week of confinement, travel by car had fallen by 80% compared to normal (the black curve below).

Evolution of route requests on Maps (Apple)


Infogram

The difference is clear with the curve of the second confinement.

Since October 30, there has been a decline, but it is only 40 to 50%.

We therefore use our car twice as much as during the first confinement.

The same goes for public transport: 90% drop in March but only 40% in November.

Logical since there are more exemptions to get to work.

But, a sign that more shops are open, we are also walking more now than in the spring.   

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A change in behavior before the two confinements

Although cold and without feelings, the data also makes it possible to gauge the responsibility of the French in the face of Covid-19, this time thanks to Google, which measures the attendance of certain public places.

Here, it is the pre-containment period that interests us.

Whether for shops, parks, bus stops or even workplaces, in March, the curve clearly shows that attendance a gradual drop in attendance of around 20 to 30% in the days preceding Emmanuel Macron's speech. 

Visitors to public places (Google)


Infogram

On the other hand, in October, no notable drop, the French have not really changed their habits.

The curfew had only a minimal effect on frequentation of shops and restaurants, with a drop of around 10 to 20% compared to a full day.

We even notice a sharp rebound for parks and stores the day before the start of the second confinement.

As if people wanted to enjoy a last day of "freedom", despite multiple warnings about the rapid circulation of the virus.