Trends point to business as unusual

 As some states ease stay-at-home restrictions, mobile handoffs (the times when a data session moves from one cell site to another as users walk or drive around) are starting to return to near pre-COVID levels in some regions, according to the latest Verizon Network Report. The Carolinas and Tennessee region are 1% below a typical day while the Georgia and Alabama region is down only 5% and the Central Gulf Coast region is down only 9% below a typical day. By contrast, many of the hardest-hit areas are still seeing major declines in handoffs compared to a typical day including the Upstate NY region (-58%), New England (-50%), and New York Metro (-47%).In addition, the Verizon Network Report shows that most categories of usage are starting to decline, with some falling significantly below peak levels. In particular downloads decreased 5% week over week, and have fallen 55% since the COVID peak, while gaming is down 10% week over week and down 45% since its peak. Customers have placed 14% fewer wireless calls from the peak of COVID calling and wireless calls are now 3% shorter in duration.