MINNEAPOLIS — Dozens of people were out at Lake of the Isles Wednesday and, for the most part, people were doing their best to practice social distancing.
In a new state report card from the tech company Unacast, Minnesotans were given an 'A' for their social-distancing practices.
"I believe that in the Midwest, we're pretty good rule followers," said Minnesota resident Ellen Butler.
Unacast, which analyzes GPS location data from smartphones to track changes in average distances traveled since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, uses that data to determine how well residents have been practicing social distancing.
States which scored an 'A' grade showed a 40% or greater decrease in average distance traveled, which Minnesota saw a 46% drop.
Wisconsin scored a 'B' with a 40% decrease in distance traveled, according to the scoreboard.
Butler acknowledged scoring high is no easy task.
"Even when I'm shopping for groceries for my parents in Richfield, I go over and I bring it to their porch and we sit on the deck six feet apart, and its so hard to not hug my mom and dad," said Butler.
In Minnesota, Red Lake County in the northwestern part of the state led the way with a 70% reduction in average distance traveled.
Swift, Norman, Washington and Carver counties rounded out the five.
RELATED: COVID 19: Hospitals restrict visitors during baby deliveries, pregnant women seek alternatives
KARE 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about the Midwest specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and keep tabs on the cases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215. And get the latest coronavirus updates sent right to your inbox every morning. Subscribe to the KARE 11 Sunrise newsletter here. Help local families in need: www.kare11.com/give11.
The state of Minnesota has set up a hotline for general questions about coronavirus at 651-201-3920 or 1-800-657-3903, available 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
More information on the coronavirus:
- Facts not fear: What the Midwest should know about coronavirus
- Current number of presumptive coronavirus cases in Minnesota and Wisconsin
- Coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements and impacts in the Twin Cities
- Here are the common symptoms of coronavirus
- What are the 'underlying conditions' that make coronavirus more serious?