skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Rural Infections Break Record for 4th Week, Cases Top 1 Million

play audio
Play

Friday, October 23, 2020   

RALEIGH, N.C. - COVID-19 cases are on the rise almost everywhere, but the share of new cases in rural North Carolina counties is outpacing the new caseload in metro counties.

According to an analysis in The Daily Yonder - which covers news in rural America - nearly 70% of more than 1,900 rural counties are now in the "red zone," a term used by the White House Coronavirus Task Force to designate areas where viral spread is out of control.

Editor of The Daily Yonder Tim Marema said in North Carolina, rural infection rates are more than 37% higher than the metropolitan rate.

"The state rural and urban areas acquired new infections at more or less the same rate until about early September," said Marema, "when non-metro case rates began to exceed those in the metropolitan area. And since early October, we've seen that accelerate to the point where we are today."

Marema said Rural America had more than 82,000 new infections last week, a 16% increase and the fourth consecutive week of record-breaking new case levels. The total number of rural Americans who've tested positive for COVID-19 now tops one million.

Marema explained that COVID-19 may be exacerbated in rural areas due to an older population, higher rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, and decreased access to quality healthcare - in addition to challenges in implementing best practices.

"You can't social distance and work remotely at a lot of jobs in rural America," said Marema. "And also, the things that we might be able to do in urban areas - like pick up our groceries in a parking lot, or order them online to be delivered - those sorts of things are not as available."

While the surge in rural county infections isn't entirely avoidable, Marema said it is controllable. He emphasizes that wearing a mask, social distancing and limiting contact with large groups can slow the spread.

"The surge in rural areas tells me that there's really no place in America that's immune or protected from the virus," said Marema. "Each community is at risk, or will be at risk - it's just a matter of time."

Just 14% of the U.S. population lives in rural counties - where last week, more than 21% of new novel coronavirus cases originated.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

Social Issues

play sound

A mix of policy updates and staffing boosts has helped to put wage theft enforcement on the radar in Minnesota, and officials leading the efforts are …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021