Pennsylvanians are doing well at social distancing, location data shows

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Pennsylvanians are doing well at social distancing, location data shows

Teghan Simonton | Thursday, March 26, 2020 5:01 a.m.

Kristina Serafini | Tribune-Review

Catherine Celender (left) and Jim Weigand chat from their balconies as Weigand’s dog Scooter looks out onto Sheridan Street in Millvale, March 20.

Pennsylvanians have improved their ability to social distance since Gov. Tom Wolf instilled various mandates in the past week, one study shows.

Unacast, a phone data company, used data from mobile phones to track the average change in distance traveled by individuals in each state and country. Across the United States, Unacast reported a 40% decrease in average distance traveled since Feb. 28. In Pennsylvania, there was a 45% decrease.

The state’s decrease in mobility became especially sharp as the number of confirmed covid-19 cases began to steadily rise, around March 16.

It was also in this time period that Wolf began official precautions — closing bars, restaurants and non-life-sustaining businesses, closing turnpike restrooms and food services and issuing a stay-at-home order for seven counties, including Allegheny County.

The average distance traveled has decreased by 50% in Allegheny County and 42% in Westmoreland County, according to Unacast.

Wolf referenced the study in a news conference Wednesday.

“I want to thank all of you for the sacrifices you’re making,” he said.

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