Is Your County Making the Grade in Social Distancing? - North Carolina Health News

Location data and analytics firm Unacast launched a Social Distancing Scoreboard to provide public health experts, policy makers, academics, community leaders and businesses with data about the behavior of people under stay at home orders. The idea behind the graphics are to reinforce the significance of social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19.

Developed using tracking software on people’s phones, the interactive map shows mobility trends by county or by state and assigns a letter grade based on how well residents maintain social distancing.

Overall, North Carolina ranked as a C-, reflecting widespread movement of people around the state.

Unacast compared the distance traveled prior to COVID-19 to what’s happening. Areas where the data show at least a 40 percent decrease in average distance traveled received an A, while areas that decreased travel by 10 decrease earned an F.

One of the three counties receiving an A in North Carolina, Dare County, was one of the first counties to close its borders and also one of the first to issue a stay at home order on March 10. As of April 9, the county has recorded 10 people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

See how your county is doing.

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