Monday, April 20, 2020

Rural areas in states without stay-at-home orders see increases in covid-19 cases

Rural areas, especially those in states without "shelter in place" policies, stay-at-home orders or equivalent dictates, saw a "small but significant spike" of covid-19 cases last week," Michael Warren reports for CNN.

"Oklahoma saw a 53 percent increase in cases over the past week, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Over the same time, cases jumped 60% in Arkansas, 74% in Nebraska, and 82% in Iowa. South Dakota saw a whopping 205% spike, Warren reports, noting later the outbreak at the big Smithfield pork-processing plant in Sioux Falls.

"This trend undermines the notion perpetuated by President Donald Trump and some of his Republican allies that the restrictive social-distancing measures aren't necessary in rural America — and that these states even offer a model for reopening the country," Warren says.

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