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Data: San Diego County average at social distancing, but can improve

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SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Since stay at home orders were issued in California, San Diegans have grown familiar with the term "social distancing."

But according to Unacast, a third party company that used GPS data on mobile devices to grade cities on social distancing, we're only about average.

San Diego County was given a "C+" in social distancing by the company, compared to a "B" for the entire state. The county has seen a 40 to 55 percent reduction in average mobility based on distance traveled (C grade), a greater than 70 percent reduction in non-essential visits (A grade), but a less than 40 percent decrease in encounters density compared to the national baseline (F grade).

RELATED: San Diego County bans all public gatherings, expands rules for face coverings

"Encounters density" looks at the proximity between any two users within 50 meters over an hour period, according to Unacast's methodology.

The study was used to illustrate county leaders' calls Friday to continue flattening the curve.

"We are meeting this challenge in San Diego County, but our fight is far from over," Supervisor Nathan Fletcher told media. "We are at a point in the struggle and in the fight against coronavirus where the risk to the public remains very high.

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"The actions that we take and continue to take over the coming weeks are going to be of utmost significance and the commitment we make to see through a good outcome is just as important today as it was the day we started these orders," Fletcher added.

Friday, San Diego County reported 1,693 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

California overall also reported social distancing is working, but that any progress reported this week shouldn't change behaviors amid the pandemic.

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"California's curve is flattening. But that progress will only hold if we continue to stay home and practice physical distancing," Gov. Gavin Newsom tweeted.