  This chapter looks at the spatial distribution and mobility patterns of
essential and non-essential workers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in
London and compares them to the rest of the UK. In the 3-month lockdown that
started on 23 March 2020, 20% of the workforce was deemed to be pursuing
essential jobs. The other 80%% were either furloughed, which meant being
supported by the government to not work, or working from home. Based on travel
journey data between zones (trips were decomposed into essential and
non-essential trips. Despite some big regional differences within the UK, we
find that essential workers have much the same spatial patterning as
non-essential for all occupational groups containing essential and
non-essential workers. Also, the amount of travel time saved by working from
home during the Pandemic is roughly the same proportion -80%-as the separation
between essential and non-essential workers. Further, the loss of travel,
reduction in workers, reductions in retail spending as well as increases in use
of parks are examined in different London boroughs using Google Mobility
Reports which give us a clear picture of what has happened over the last 6
months since the first Lockdown. These reports also now imply that a second
wave of infection is beginning.
