Most Rural Counties in Virus 'Red-Zone'

Rural counties in Ohio are seeing a faster rate of new coronavirus cases than metropolitan areas of the state, a new analysis shows.

Tim Marema of the Daily Yonder looked at the data and concluded that rural countries nationwide are seeing surges in COVID-19 cases as cooler weather sets in.

The analysis found that 160 counties were added to the federal government's "red-zone" list, which means they have at least 100 new COVID-19 cases for every 100,000 people. Overall, 69% of rural counties are in that classification, compared to 54% of metro counties.

In Ohio, 62% of rural counties are now on the "red-zone" list. The state's rate of new cases is 96.6 per 100,000 people in rural counties and 77.3 per 100,000 people in metro counties.

"The surge in rural areas tells me there's really no place in America immune or protected from the virus," Marema said, according to the Cleveland Scene. "Each community is at risk or will be at risk. It's just a matter of time."

He added, "In Ohio, currently we see that the rate of new infections is about 25% higher in rural areas than it is in metropolitan areas.

"The measures that we're able to take right now can go a long way in containing the virus, the health experts tell me. But they don't do any good if you don't practice them. It's not easy but it's not complicated."

More than 8.5 million Americans have been sickened with COVID-19 and upward of 227,000 have died. In Ohio, more than 188,000 infections and more than 5,100 deaths have been recorded.

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