Fife shoppers not deterred by Covid-19 over Christmas

Activity in the Kingdom’s supermarkets and pharmacies in the week running up to December 20 was on average eight percent above a five-week baseline period at the start of the year, the latest report shows.

The previous week it was two percent higher, while during the week leading up to December 6 it was one percent above pre-pandemic activity on average, showing a rising number of shopping trips during December.

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Google uses location data from phones and other devices to show trends in people's movement during the pandemic, including in shops.

The data includes movement in grocery markets, food warehouses, farmers markets, specialty food shops, drug stores, and pharmacies.

Concern has grown over possible coronavirus transmission in busy environments, such as supermarkets.

Several major retailer chains have pledged to deny entry to customers not wearing face masks, amid concerns that social distancing rules are being flouted.

But the British Retail Consortium says shops are a safe environment and that supermarkets are Covid-secure.

The figures suggest that these locations were much quieter in the following weeks covering Christmas and New Year, at an average of nine percent below the baseline in the week to December 27, and down 18% in the week to January 3.

Across the UK, supermarket visits were just two percent below pre-pandemic activity in the week to December 20, which was higher than any other week since the start of the first lockdown on March 23, 2020.

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