Georgia gets an ‘F’ in social distancing, data shows. Which counties did the worst?
Social distancing efforts seem to have gone out the window across much of Georgia, new data suggests.
The Peach State was among nearly a dozen states to earn a failing grade in the latest scores released by Unacast, a company utilizing cellphone location data to gain insight about our movements and behavior. Its colorful, interactive map is updated daily and ranks states based on how well they adhere to social distancing guidance issued in response to the coronavirus.
As of Thursday, there were more than 26,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia and 1,112 deaths, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.
On April 24, Gov. Brian Kemp gave the go ahead for several businesses to reopen, including gyms, barbershops, bowling alleys and others. Restaurants and cinemas were also allowed turn on the welcome sign for customers on Monday, but not without strict limitations.
Health officials, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have urged people to continue to keep a safe distance of at least 6 feet in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The latest data from Unacast shows Georgia has plenty of room for improvement after getting an F in social distancing, according to Thursday’s report.
The state reported 620 new cases of coronavirus and saw a less than 25 percent reduction in average mobility, the analysis shows based on data from April 28.
To come up with the score, researchers also measured changes in nonessential travel and human encounters, compared to the national baseline. The Peach State also failed in both these categories, reporting a less than 55 percent decrease in nonessential visits and a less than 40 percent drop in encounters, according to the data.
The day before Kemp’s decision to reopen parts of the economy, Georgia had a social distancing score of C. It dropped to a D the following day, bounced back to a C on April 25 and fell, yet again, to a D before landing at an F on April 28, the map shows.
At the county level, some Georgia counties scored better than others. Unacast breaks it down:
- Counties earning B grades: Baker, Talbot, Calhoun, Johnson, Clay and Randolph.
- Counties earning C grades: Lincoln, Wilkes, Clinch, Hancock, Quitman, Macon, Turner, Glascock, Dooly, Oglethorpe, Taylor, Echols, Crawford, Terrell, Schley, Atkinson, Wheeler, Stewart, Warren, Irwin, Brooks, Marion, Jenkins, Miller and 15 others.
- Counties earning D grades: Heard, Twiggs, McIntosh, Berrien, Brantley, Charlton, Tattnall, Jefferson, Rabun, Jeff Davis, Fulton, Pulaski, Jasper, Lumpkin, Chattahoochee, Candler, Greene, Grady, Sumter, Bleckley, Appling, Bacon, Emanuel and 22 others.
- Counties earning F grades: Muscogee, Rockdale, Peach, Decatur, Dade, Gwinnett, Crisp, Bibb, Floyd, Troup, Dougherty, Morgan, Spalding, Harralson, Clayton, Catoosa, Thomas, Toombs, Cherokee, Bartow, Laurens, Houston, Coffee, Cobb, Douglas, Cherokee and 43 others.
Baker County, which had 23 coronavirus cases and two deaths as of Thursday, topped the list with a B grade, according to Unacast and state health data. Pickens County, with 26 cases and two coronavirus deaths, scored lowest on the list, the report shows.
Nationally, Nevada earned the highest score with a C+ grade. The worst? Rhode Island was home to the worst isolators, earning an F. Other states that received failing grades include North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut and Alabama, according to Thursday’s rankings.
Overall, the U.S. scored below average in social distancing, earning a D minus mark.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 4:17 PM.