New rural infections decline, but are still 80% higher than the metro rate; new rural vaccination rate barely budges

New coronavirus infections, in ranges by county, Oct. 10-16
Map by The Daily Yonder; click the image to enlarge it or click here for the interactive version.

Here's the latest data on rural vaccination, new infections, and deaths from the coronavirus:

"The proportion of rural residents who are completely vaccinated against Covid-19 rose by half a percentage point last week. But part of that gain came from previously administered vaccinations that were simply revised to record geographic information," Tim Murphy and Tim Marema report for The Daily Yonder. "As of Thursday, October 14, 43.2% of the nation’s rural population had completed a Covid-19 vaccination regimen (two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine)."

Vaccination rates as of Oct. 14, compared to the national average and adjusted to account for vaccinations not assigned to specific counties. Map by The Daily Yonder; click the image to enlarge it or click here for the interactive version.

"New cases of Covid-19 declined in rural counties last week, but rural areas continue to account for a disproportionate share of new infections and Covid-related deaths," Murphy and Marema report. "New infections in rural counties fell by 11% in the week ending Saturday, Oct. 16, from about 141,000 two weeks to 125,000 cases last week. Metropolitan counties had a slightly bigger decline of 12%. Covid-related deaths in rural counties fell by 6.1% last week, from 2,655 to 2,492. Metropolitan counties had a much sharper decline of 14.4%."

 

The Yonder has more charts, interactive maps and regional analysis on vaccinations, infections and deaths.