An article published in the Daily Yonder shared updated COVID-19 research that could spell trouble for rural areas. The article pulls research from sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the COVID Tracking Project. A combination of factors could affect the impact of COVID-19 on rural America. The populations in rural regions tend to be older and more likely to have prior health conditions. This extends to the healthcare workers themselves. Rural healthcare facilities are also ill-equipped to handle high volumes of patients, particularly ones in serious condition. Less than 1 percent of the nation’s ICU beds are located in rural areas.

Read the full article from The Daily Yonder here: https://www.dailyyonder.com/research-update-why-coronavirus-could-hit-rural-areas-harder/2020/03/24/