Coronavirus and Rural Communities in the United States
Rural communities in America are facing a unique predicament due to the Coronavirus epidemic. The reduction of the economy, healthcare infrastructure that is not built to support such large numbers of people in need, and slow relief efforts has led to a distrust by those most affected. The social structures needed to rehabilitate these areas will only be successful if those living there feel heard and understood through both a systemic and cultural standpoint.
Why Rural America?
It seems that from the beginning of monitoring the outbreak in the United States, the coronavirus has ‘avoided’ rural America. Due to most of the attention on the urban hotspots such as Washington, California, and New York, the idea that rural America is ‘safe’ from the spread of the virus has been adopted by not only those within the communities, but their local government and law enforcement as well.1The data, however, shows that this could not be farther from the truth. As of May 6th, 2020, nearly 9 in 10 rural counties in the United States have at least one COVID-19 patient2. These conceptually low numbers are thought to be a multitude of factors- the low population density, the lack of available tests, and the poor access to hospitals- that cannot be easily fixed by non-accessible money. There are more issues at hand than just the lack of support from society’s infrastructure. People who live in rural communities are more likely to be older, have underlying health issues, and have higher rates of unemployment and poverty.3 People who have been relieved from their jobs are also at risk of losing their health insurance, which continues to keep those who need medical assistance from getting the help that they need. Most rural communities in the United States also rely heavily on income generated from prisons, worker plants like meatpacking and warehouses, and seasonal tourism4. These areas do not allow for proper social distancing practices and have been looked over during the distribution of PPE, but are simultaneously being considered essential and necessary to continue operating.5 With some of these businesses closing their doors to limit the spread of coronavirus between workers, many people who are working within these communities feel that their livelihood has been put on hold for something that seems like a ‘big city issue’. All of these factors have led to a bigger push to reopen states despite the number of cases and deaths climbing, but the following of social distancing guidelines and the number of tests allotted much farther behind5. This has the capacity to allow the virus to spread due to the lack of an accurate count and proper treatment of those who have contracted the disease. Furthermore, many of these rural communities rely on seasonal tourist traffic from non-locals as a main source of their income5. By opening these areas to boost the economy, these communities are risking exposing themselves to an imported spreading of the virus and a more negative impact on their economy than expected.
How, through an anthropological lens, can rural America both keep their economy afloat and prioritize the well-being of their citizens? Ideally, the well-being and health of those within the community would be put first and the economy would be given the opportunity to develop a strategy given the chance that something this widespread and debilitating were to occur again. The quicker and more obtainable solution, given the reliance on these communities and what they supply to larger urban areas, is to establish a local mutual relationship with the communities around them and work to supply resources to one another. Rural communities are often ostracized and overshadowed when in comparison to urban areas, leading to a misunderstanding in the quality of life for both types of people.6 To remove this barrier would also allow people to consider the experience of others and the unique situations that only become more exposed when the pressure on their performance increases. The idea that those who are petitioning that the country reopen itself because of the economy are spoiled and putting their wants above the health of others is flawed. Some of the protests are for this exact reason, but others are asking to reopen to return to receiving income and being able to pay their living expenses.5 Their claims are not based in a desire to continue their lives as if the virus is not a concern, but are a cry for help that they feel the government is not hearing, so they are doing what is necessary to feed their families.7
This polarized ideal- returning to normalcy or accepting this as the new normal- is an explicitly social argument, and its correct response is dependent on whether people feel supported by their community, their environment, and their government. By developing a plan that has hope for the future and incorporates the feelings and experiences of those living in rural communities, this new normal can be modified to support all groups of people within the United States.
Works Cited
Editor, N/a. 2020. "COVID Today - May 6 - North Carolina Health News". North Carolina Health News. https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/05/06/coronavirus-today-may-6/.
Firozi, Paulina. 2020. "The Health 202: Coronavirus Is Shifting From Urban Areas To Rural Ones". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/paloma/the-health-202/2020/05/06/the-health-202-coronavirus-is-shifting-from-the-urban-areas-to-rural-ones/5eb1913b602ff15fb00257f8/
Smith, Tara. 2020. "The Pandemic Will Soon Test Rural America". Foreign Affairs. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-05-06/pandemic-will-soon-test-rural-america.
Engel-Smith, Liora. 2020. "Coronavirus Gains Foothold In Rural NC - North Carolina Health News". North Carolina Health News. https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2020/05/07/nc-coronavirus-rural/
Skelton, George. 2020. "Column: Rural Areas Have A Message For Newsom: One Size Doesn't Fit All In Reopening California". Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-04/skelton-rural-california-coronavirus-reopen-gavin-newsom.
Johnson, Brent. 2020. "‘Open New Jersey Now!’ Protesters In Trenton Demand Gov. Murphy Lift Coronavirus Lockdowns Despite Rising Death Toll". Nj. https://www.nj.com/coronavirus/2020/04/open-jersey-now-protestors-in-trenton-call-on-gov-murphy-to-lift-coronavirus-lockdowns.html
Smith, Tara. 2020. "The Pandemic Will Soon Test Rural America". Foreign Affairs. https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-05-06/pandemic-will-soon-test-rural-america.
Witte, Griff. 2020. "As States Reopen, Cities Are Staying Shut. That Could Mean More Coronavirus In Rural America.". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/as-states-reopen-cities-are-staying-shut-that-could-mean-more-coronavirus-in-rural-america/2020/04/30/72f6254c-8b21-11ea-9dfd-990f9dcc71fc_story.html.