The chart shows the number of new Covid-19 infections in nonmetropolitan, or rural, counties. The red bars indicate days on which the record for most new cases was broken. (Daily Yonder graphic using USA Facts data)

Rural counties have seen record-breaking numbers of new Covid-19 cases for the last four days in a row.

The streak started on Tuesday, June 23, when there were 3,885 new cases of Covid-19 in nonmetropolitan, or rural, counties. The figure climbed each day, reaching 4,550 new cases on Friday, June 26.

The previous record for new Covid-19 cases on a single day in nonmetropolitan counties was set on June 12, when there were 3,655 new infections.

The rise in new cases of Covid-19 in rural counties is part of the national uptick in infections. Rural cases are rising at a slightly faster rate than the national average. In the last week, June 20-26, the cumulative number of rural infections climbed by 11.9%. Nationally, cases were up 9.5% for that period. 

The rate of increase is greatest in midsized metropolitan areas (metros with populations of 500,000 to under 1 million). Those counties had an increase of 13.9% June 20-26.For our most recent county-level map of new infections, see our June 26 article.

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