The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Population Mobility in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

Abstract

Abstract In this scientific paper, the authors address the issue of mobility and the spread of COVID-19, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in the mobility of the population of the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2020. The goal of the study is to determine whether the increase in the number of positive cases of COVID-19 and the associated increase in deaths influences changes in various categories of population mobility at the regional level in selected countries. The aim of the work is to empirically assess the impact of the first year of the pandemic on the mobility of the population. To achieve this, data on population mobility obtained from Google Statistics, together with information on the increase in the number of positive cases and the number of deaths caused by COVID-19 from both countries, were combined. The paper interprets and evaluates the results achieved, providing a picture of the course of the pandemic in the territories of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.