Insights into the impact of COVID-19 on household travel and activities in Australia - The early days under restrictions

Abstract

When 2020 began, we had no idea what was to unfold globally as we learnt about the Novel-Coronavirus in Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China. As this virus spread rapidly, it became a matter of time before many countries began to implement measures to try and contain the spread of the disease. COVID-19 as it is referred to, resulted in two main approaches to fighting the viral pandemic, either through a progressive set of measures to slow down the number of identified cases designed to 'flatten the curve' over time (anticipated to be at least six months), or to attack it by the severest of measures including a total lock-down and/or herding exposure to fast track 'immunisation' while we await a vaccine. The paper reports the findings from the first phase of an ongoing survey designed to identify the changing patterns in travel activity of Australian residents as a result of the stage 2 restrictions imposed by the Australian government. The main restrictions, in addition to social distancing of at least 1.5 m, are closure of entry to Australia (except residents returning), and closure of non-essential venues such as night clubs, restaurants, mass attendee sporting events, churches, weddings, and all social gatherings in any circumstance. With some employers encouraging working from home and others requiring it, in addition to job losses, and many children attending school online from home, the implications on travel activity is extreme. We identify the initial impacts associated with the first month of stricter social distancing measures introduced in Australia.

Keywords: Air travel; Attitudes; Australia; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Shopping; Survey; Travel activity; Working; Working from home.

Fig. 1

Key events in the initial stages of COVID-19.

Fig. 2

Daily number of reported cases.

Fig. 3

CityMapper mobility index.

Fig. 4

Google mobility report for whole of Australia.

Fig. 5

Impact of COVID-19 on reported household weekly trips.

Fig. 6

Reported weekly household trips by mode.

Fig. 7

Most and least comfortable mode of transport.

Fig. 8

Level of concern about hygiene on public transport.

Fig. 9

Reported weekly household trips by purpose.

Fig. 10

Changes in car use over previous week.

Fig. 11

Impact of government regulations on availability of work.

Fig. 12

Days Worked per Week (if employed prior to COVID-19).

Fig. 13

Ability to complete work from home.

Fig. 14

Workplace policy to working from home.

Fig. 15

Number of days working from home.

Fig. 16

Interruption to normal activities due to COVID-19.

Fig. 17

Air travel interrupted by COVID-19.

Fig. 18

Difficulties shopping for items (Y).

Fig. 19

Stocking up on selected items (Y).

Fig. 20

Average days stock of selected items.

Fig. 21

Level of agreement with statements regarding COVID-19.

Fig. 22

Risk of COVID-19 to human and economic health.