Kaiser Family Foundation Study on COVID-19 in Rural America
The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) released a new issue brief discussing the differences in COVID-19 infection rates of urban versus rural areas in the United States. KFF states that while to date big cities and major urban areas have seen the greatest number of coronavirus cases and deaths, the KFF analysis finds the growth rate is now higher in rural areas, where the population tends to be older; younger people are more likely to have high-risk health conditions; and there are fewer intensive-care beds. The analysis finds that in the two-week period ending April 27, non-metro, mostly rural counties saw a 125% increase in coronavirus cases (from 51 to 115 cases per 100,000 people) and a 169% increase in deaths (from 1.6 to 4.4 deaths per 100,000 people). Meanwhile, metro counties saw a 68% increase in cases (from 195 cases per 100,000 people to 328) and a 113% increase in deaths (from 8.0 deaths per 100,000 people to 17.0).
FMI To access the brief click here