New rural coronavirus infections spiked 60% last week, led by the Deep South and states touching Missouri, Arkansas

New coronavirus infections, in ranges by county, July 18-24
Daily Yonder map; click the image to enlarge it or click here  for the interactive version

Nonmetropolitan counties saw 46,141 new coronavirus infections during the week of July 18-24, a 60 percent jump from the previous week. Overall, the new-infection rate has more than tripled since the end of June. "The growth in new infections is climbing fastest in the Deep South and in states adjacent to Missouri and Arkansas, the epicenter of the resurgence caused by the Delta variant of the coronavirus," Tim Murphy and Tim Marema report for The Daily Yonder. 

The number of Covid-related deaths in rural counties last week fell by 11, to 343, and the death rate remained about the same as the week prior, but deaths are a lagging indicator of the pandemic. Click here for charts, more regional analysis, and an interactive county-level map.