The number of new Covid-19 infections in rural America jumped by nearly 50% last week, fueled primarily by increased cases in and around Missouri and in Florida.
The number of Covid-related deaths in nonmetropolitan counties also grew last week.
New infections in rural counties grew from 19,517 two weeks ago to 28,479 last week, a climb of 46%. The number of new infections in rural counties has more than doubled in the last month.
Deaths in rural counties climbed from 282 two weeks ago to 354 last week, an increase of 26%. That’s the first increase in rural deaths in two months. Covid-19 deaths are a trailing indicator, and the increase likely reflects higher rates of new infections that began one month ago.
Metropolitan counties also saw an increase in cases and deaths. Metro cases grew by 66% last week to 181,638. Metro deaths related to Covid-19 climbed by 5% to 1,1262 last week.
The Daily Yonder’s Covid-19 report covers Sunday, July 11, through Saturday, July 17. The report uses data compiled by the nonprofit USA Facts.
