The number of Americans venturing out over the Memorial Day weekend has spiked to levels not seen since the coronavirus pandemic brought the United States to a grinding halt more than two months ago.
Cellphone data from Apple’s COVID-19 mobility trends report shows that the number of people out driving across the US increased by more than 25 percent on Saturday alone.
The number of people out walking also increased on Saturday to levels not seen since mid-March when stay-at-home orders were put in place across most of the country.
In comparison, the number of people driving and walking around dropped nearly 70 percent at the peak of the pandemic in early April. The data shows a gradual increase of people moving around since then.
It comes as all 50 states have now at least partially lifted lockdown measures that were introduced to stop the spread of coronavirus, raising fears among some health officials that such increases in mobility has the potential to result in a second wave of outbreaks.
Cellphone data from Apple ‘s COVID-19 mobility trends report shows that the number of people out driving across the US increased by more than 25 percent on Saturday alone. The number of people out walking also increased on Saturday to levels not seen since mid-March when stay-at-home orders were put in place across most of the country
Different cellphone mobility tracking data compiled by Cuebiq shows that a cluster of southern US states are the areas that saw the most movement among its residents over the Memorial Day weekend. An analysis of that data shows that the top 10 states with the most movement over the weekend are neighboring areas mostly in the South
Meanwhile, different cellphone mobility tracking data compiled by Cuebiq shows that a cluster of southern US states are the areas that saw the most movement among its residents over the Memorial Day weekend.
The data shows the average daily trend of Americans that have traveled more than 10 miles from their homes as the level of social distancing due to COVID-19 varied greatly across the country.
An analysis of that data shows that the top 10 states with the most movement over the weekend are neighboring areas mostly in the South.
The cluster of states all share borders with each other, which indicates that interstate travel over the weekend may have been likely.
The phone data analysis shows that Mississippi’s residents traveled the most over the holiday weekend with an average of 41 percent of people going more than 10 miles.
Following closely behind was Alabama and Oklahoma where an average of 40 percent of people moved around.
In Georgia, where beaches were crowded with people not staying six-feet from others, more than 39 percent of people were traveling around, according to the mobile data.
Scenes at Georgia’s Tybee Island, in particular, showed beaches filled with families, bicyclists, beach chairs, games, swimmers and more. On a main drag, people lined the sidewalk outside a bar standing close together.
The number of people driving in Missouri, where a crowded party at the Lake of the Ozarks has caused outrage, spiked to more than 50 percent on Saturday
MISSOURI: Revelers are seen celebrating Memorial Day weekend at Osage Beach at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri on Saturday
The number of people driving in Mississippi spiked on Saturday to levels not seen since the coronavirus pandemic broke out.
In Missouri, the cellphone data shows that an average of 38 percent of people were moving around over the holiday weekend.
Footage of a crowded party at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri has since gone viral after one video showed a pool crammed with people standing just inches from each other without masks.
The state’s eased lockdown orders still mandate social distancing. Health officials have since said those partygoers should self-isolate for 14 days or until they get a negative COVID-19 test result.
Data from Tennessee and Louisiana show that both states saw an average of 38 percent of people out over the weekend.
In South Carolina, where beaches, hotels and attractions have since reopened, an average of 37 percent of people were moving around over the weekend.
Arkansas and Nebraska also saw about 37 percent of people traveling, according to the mobility data.
Scenes showing large crowds in various parts of the country over the holiday weekend has sparked warnings from healthy authorities about the risk of a COVID-19 reassurance as the nationwide death toll nears 100,000.
It comes as a Reuters analysis showed 20 states have reported an increase in new cases for the week ending May 24, which is up from 13 states in the prior week.
The number of people driving in South Carolina increased nearly 70 percent – levels not seen since before the coronavirus pandemic broke out
SOUTH CAROLINA: In South Carolina, where beaches, hotels and attractions have since reopened, an average of 37 percent of people were moving around over the weekend
South Carolina had the biggest weekly increase at 42 percent. Alabama’s new cases rose 28 percent from the previous week, Missouri’s rose 27 percent and North Carolina’s rose 26 percent.
New cases in Georgia, one of the first states to reopen, rose 21 percent after two weeks of declines.
Nationally, new cases of COVID-19 fell 0.8 percent for the week ended May 24, compared with a decline of 8 percent in the prior week.
All 50 states have now at least partially reopened, raising fears among some health officials of a second wave of outbreaks. The increase in cases could also be due to more testing.
The CDC has recommended states wait for their daily number of new COVID-19 cases to fall for 14 days before easing social distancing restrictions.
As of May 24, only 15 states had met that criteria, which is up from 13 in the prior week.
Washington state, where the US outbreak first started, has the longest streak with cases falling for eight weeks in a row, followed by Hawaii at seven weeks and Pennsylvania and New York at six weeks.
Washington state posted the biggest drop in cases, down over 50 percent, followed by Kentucky, where new cases fell nearly 30 percent. New York saw new cases drop 23 percent.
Texas saw new cases fall 15 percent after they rose 22% in the prior week.