New coronavirus infection rate fell just 0.5% in rural counties last week as metropolitan-county rates were falling 7.6%

Newly reported coronavirus infections, in ranges by county, Aug. 16-22
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 remained stable in rural counties last week, falling only 0.5%, while the rate in metropolitan-area counties fell 7.6% from the previous week. Rural counties had a lower new infection rate than metro counties from March until last week; this week's figures widened the gap, Sarah Melotte reports for The Daily Yonder.

"A similar pattern emerged in Covid-19 related deaths last week. While rural counties saw a 0.4% drop in death rates, reporting 560 deaths last week, metropolitan counties saw an 8.5% drop compared to two weeks ago. Metropolitan America reported 2553 deaths last week." Melotte reports. Click here for more charts and and county-level interactive maps from the Yonder.