COVID-19, as they say, is one of life’s great equalizers. It respects no one and recognizes neither race, gender, color, political inclinations, religious beliefs, and social status.
The dreaded virus came all the way from one of China’s provinces into the homes of millions of people all over the world. It has brought countries to their knees as economies came crashing because of the havoc it wreaked.
Millions of people found themselves without a job which sent them all packing for their homes. People who live in urban dwellings found themselves coming up with different ways to earn money from home to provide for their family’s needs and have money in case some kind of medical emergency arises.
City and urban dwellers have the advantage of having easy access to medical services. However, those who live in rural and far-flung areas are not as fortunate. Those who live in cities have, despite the strict implementation of COVID-19 safety regulations, can easily get treatment and buy medicine and medical supplies. Folks who are hours away from any town or city don’t have that luxury.
Presently, about 46 million Americans live in rural and remote areas. These people face some distinctive challenges at this time. Their location entails certain health and social disadvantages that somehow put them at a higher risk of contracting the coronavirus.
What is the situation in rural and remote areas?
Generally and statistically, rural Americans tend to have higher rates of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cigarette smoking. Add to that the fact that they have less healthcare access, whether it’s a physical clinic or online through a patient gateway or portal, puts them at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19.
Since they live in far away and harder-to-reach areas, not everyone believes that COVID-19 can make its way to them. A lot of people who live in rural areas still think that it’s all a hoax and a conspiracy concocted by the world governments to instill fear into their people so they can control them. This isn’t surprising at all as more city-dwellers buy into this theory.
But for those who are actually mindful of their health and of other people’s, they observe the regulations set by the CDC and the federal government as much as they can.
What are the challenges in those areas?
While most folks are in agreement that it is better to err on the side of safety than to be reckless about the pandemic, rural folks are faced with several challenges that make them highly susceptible to the disease, no matter how much they comply.
Depending on their location, supplies to their communities are limited and take a lot longer to deliver. This goes for all types of supplies, from food to clothing to medical supplies. One of the main challenges that rural people have today is their limited access to certain personal protective equipment like masks, gloves, and other similar PPEs.
Similarly, their medical and health centers aren’t fully equipped to take on any active COVID-19 cases. In the event that one tests positive for the disease, they need to transport the said infected person all the way to the nearest COVID-19-ready facility which could take anywhere from a few hours to a full day’s worth of travel time made even harder by the imposed travel restrictions all across the nation.
Even if most of the states have eased up on their COVID-19 protocols, most of them still enforce certain rules and regulations as a safety measure to protect their constituents.
The apparent spread of false news, misinformation, and conspiracy theories doesn’t help make the situation any better.
What should be done to help spread awareness and protect rural areas from COVID-19?
Given some of the present challenges that rural communities are faced with during this pandemic, the government should take some extra steps to ensure that this demographic is not overlooked in terms of COVID-19 provisions.
Medical resources should be allocated appropriately to each of the rural and remote communities. This includes but is not limited to:
mobile health centers and hospitals that can provide diagnosis and initial treatment for COVID-19 patients and those who have its symptoms;
more extensive information and education about the pandemic;
provide telehealth and other online medical platforms for easier access to medical assistance;
medical supplies and medication; and
personal protective equipment.
Aside from the government’s role in this, the local townsfolk should also take a proactive stance in helping spread awareness and combating the disease. They could:
gather valid and authentic information about the pandemic and help educate others in the community;
help make masks where there is a shortage in supply;
observe physical distancing;
stay indoors as much as possible; and
practice proper hygiene and boost their immune systems.
Even though COVID-19 is mostly driven by population density and socializing, which are apparently higher in urban settings, this should not mean that the government should only focus on these settings. A lot of people outside of these towns and cities are depending on the federal government to look after their health and safety, too.
