Rate of new rural coronavirus infections remain steady; rural death rate higher than metro for 60th week straight

New coronavirus infections, in ranges by county, June 7-13
Map by The Daily Yonder; click on the image to enlarge it or click here for the interactive version.

The rate of new coronavirus infections in rural counties stayed nearly unchanged during the week of June 7-13 while deaths related to Covid-19 climbed slightly, Tim Marema reports for The Daily Yonder. Rural counties reported 65,346 new infections last week, 38 fewer than the week before. Meanwhile, 433 new Covid-related deaths were reported in rural counties, 67 more than the week before, or an 18 percent climb.

"In metropolitan counties, the number of new infections fell while deaths increased by more than 25% compared to two weeks ago," Marema reports. Metro counties reported 647,191 new infections last week, down 60,843, or 8%, from the week before. Covid-related deaths in metro counties totaled 2,184, an increase of 488 from two weeks ago, or nearly 28%.

"For the 60th consecutive week, the rate of Covid-related deaths was higher in rural counties than metropolitan counties last week," Marema reports. "Rural counties had a death rate of 0.94 per 100,000 last week, while metropolitan counties had a death rate of 0.77 per 100,000." Click here for more charts, regional analysis, and county-level interactive maps from the Yonder.