BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Only two out of the eight counties in Western New York saw a more than 50 percent drop in mobility and non-essential visits Wednesday, according to the latest social distancing research done by the human mobility company Unacast.
Erie County had an average grade of B Wednesday, the highest in the region, meaning a more than 70 percent combined decrease in average mobility (based on distance traveled) and non-essential visits since February 24. Niagara County scores a B minus.
The grades are based on GPS and cellular data and vary from day to day.
Yesterday, Erie County saw a 40-55 percent decrease in mobility, leading Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to take to Twitter and point out that social distancing in Erie County has actually gotten worse over the past 10 days.
This is NOT good: Erie County's social distancing is not getting better but in the last 10 days has gotten worse. If we do not stay away from others we will not #FlattenTheCurve. That means more people will get sick and die. Please be better people!https://t.co/CM34gvUuqs pic.twitter.com/FPSzpS0rc6
— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) April 8, 2020
Here is how the grading breaks down:
A: More than 70 percent decrease in social mobility.
B: 55-70 percent decrease.
C: 40-45 percent decrease.
D: 25-40 percent decrease
F: Less than a 25 percent decrease in social mobility.
Cattaraugus County scored a C on Wednesday, while Genesee County scored a C minus.
Allegany and Chautauqua counties both earned a D, while Orleans and Wyoming counties averaged the worst in the state, a D minus, meaning only a 20 to 30 percent overall decrease in social mobility and non-essential visits
Manhattan, the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, is averaging an A minus, with a more than 55% decrease in all counties except for the Bronx.
Overall, New York state earned an A minus on Wednesday, which ties Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan and New Jersey.
