ALL NEWS

How good is Utah at social distancing?

Mar 26, 2020, 8:50 AM

Coronavirus call-in...

Norweigan data company Unacast has ranked every county and state in the US on how good they're doing keeping their social distance. And Utah came in pretty average.

We’ve all heard the recommendations from the world’s top doctors urging the global public to practice social distancing as a way to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and help flatten the curve. So how good is Utah at social distancing?

Well, pretty average.

The data company Unacast created a social distancing scoreboard that analyzes real-time data to see how well communities have been at keeping their social distance.

How they did it

The company used anonymized data from millions of smartphones and their daily travels before the COVID-19 pandemic and compared them to travels now.

“Using the change in distance traveled from pre-COVID-19 days as a proxy, we determined a ‘Social Distancing’ score for each county,” the company said.

If the residents of a county dropped their distance traveled by more than 40%, they scored A, and if it was less than 10% they scored an F.

Coming in at the top spot was the nation’s capital with an A ranking where residents dropped their travel by 61%.

They were followed by Nevada (a 55% drop), New Jersey (decreased by 55%), Vermont (a 51% drop), and Massachusetts (also a 51% drop).

Rounding out the bottom was Wyoming, the only state to score F, where the average distance traveled actually went up by 6%.

The other states in ascending order are Montana (a 15% decrease), Hawaii (down by 15%), Idaho (down by 16%) and New Mexico (a drop of 23%).

Utah and social distancing

Utah’s ranking came in at a C. Unacast calculated that the average Utahn reduced their normal travel by 24%. You can see Unacast’s county breakdown below.

utah social distancing

Utah’s data on social distancing, based on smartphone data Unacast ranks Utah with a C grade where the average resident reduced their travel by 24%. | Courtesy Unacast

 

Beaver: F / 31%
Box Elder: F / 28%
Cache: B /  -34%
Carbon: F / 27%
Daggett: C /  -26%
Davis: C /  -25%
Duchesne: D /  -14%
Emery: F /  42%
Garfield: F /  13%
Grand: F /  15%
Iron: F /  21%
Juab: F / 0%
Kane: C / -28%
Millard: F /  -6%
Morgan: F /  11%
Piute: F /  44%
Rich: F /  -5%
Salt Lake: B /  -37%
San Juan: F / -4%
Sanpete: D / -20%
Sevier: F / 1%
Summit: A /  -56%
Tooele: F /  7%
Uintah: C /  -20%
Utah: D / -18%
Wasatch: A /  -50%
Washington: D /  -18%
Wayne: C /  -24%
Weber: D /  -18%

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

All News

a cat and her kitten shown, Fawn's Family Rescue provides quality time with adoptable ctas...

Heather Peterson

Fawn’s Family Rescue provides lounge to interact with adoptable cats

Fawn's Family Rescue recently opened its doors in Bountiful. The new cat lounge provides a comfortable way for people to hang out with feline friends.

3 hours ago

A n3-year degree may be an option...

Amie Schaeffer

Utah students could soon earn bachelor’s degrees in 3 years

College students may be able to graduate with a bachelors degree in three years in some industries.

4 hours ago

Rain and snow expected Easter...

Adam Small

More rain and snow on the way for Easter

More rain and snow is headed to Utah on Thursday, and the wet weather is expected to hang around through Easter.

5 hours ago

Rep Phil Lyman shown, lyman dei comments came under scrutiny...

Emma Keddington

Rep. Phil Lyman defends post correlating DEI policies with Baltimore bridge collapse

Rep. Phil Lyman is defending a post made Tuesday, that said Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies had something to do with the Baltimore bridge collapse. 

6 hours ago

The Powder Baby Dry Shampoo team poses with its check after winning the 2024 Utah Entrepreneur Chal...

Logan Stefanich, KSL.COM

BYU student startup wins $30K at Utah Entrepreneur Challenge

BYU entrepreneur Kylee Black, who founded Powder Baby, said the cash prize will be instrumental in advancing her business.

7 hours ago

Utah Jazz Collin Sexton...

Ben Anderson

Jazz 3-18 Since Trade Deadline After Loss To Spurs

At 3-18 since the trade deadline, the Jazz now sit behind the 4-19 Portland Trail Blazers as the league’s worst team since February 8.

7 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

How good is Utah at social distancing?