Covid-19 infections and deaths climbed last week nationwide, according to a Daily Yonder analysis of data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For the eighth consecutive week, rural death rates were higher than urban rates.
Infections
Rural counties reported 59,683 infections last week, a 10% increase from the 54,183 infections reported two weeks ago. The weekly rate of infection in rural America was 129.57 cases per 100,000 residents. Half of all rural counties had infection rates higher than 100 cases per 100,000.
In metropolitan counties, the infection rate was 155.87 infections per 100,000, 16% higher than the rural rate. Urban areas reported 439,828 cases last week, a 13% increase from 388,534 cases reported last week. About 60% of urban counties reported infection rates greater than 100 per 100,000.
Infection rates are likely much higher since the CDC does not track cases detected through home tests.
Deaths
Rural America reported 440 Covid-related deaths last week, 11% more than the 398 reported two weeks ago. The rural death rate was .96 deaths per 100,000 residents, 10% higher than the metropolitan death rate of .87 deaths per 100,000 residents. Rural deaths rates have been higher than urban rates for eight consecutive weeks.
Urban areas reported 2,443 deaths last week, 10% more than the 2,231 deaths reported two weeks ago.
Last week, the cumulative rural death rate was 411.41 deaths per 100,000, 37% higher than the urban cumulative death rate of 300.54 deaths per 100,000.
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