Editor's note
|
New York City and other urban centers have been hardest hit so far by COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean rural America is safe. In fact, rural residents – 30% of the U.S. population – face a unique risk because of the fragility of hospitals and health care access in rural America.
More than 120 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, including 19 in 2019 alone. COVID-19 could make the problem even worse, explains Kevin J. Bennett, who studies rural health care at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. While there are no easy fixes, expanding insurance coverage and providing incentives for doctors to work in rural areas could help, he writes.
Also today:
|
Lynne Anderson
Senior Health + Medicine Editor
|
|
|
Top story
|
The empty streets of Hebron, Illinois, population 1,200, a village three miles south of the Illinois / Wisconsin border.
Getty Images / Scott Olson
Kevin J. Bennett, University of South Carolina
Rural America has special problems as it copes with the COVID-19 pandemic.
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Daniel N. Rockmore, Dartmouth College; Michael Herron, Dartmouth College
Researchers and public health officials still don't know how widespread nor how deadly the coronavirus really is. Random testing is a way to quickly and easily learn this important information.
|
|
Education
|
-
Wendy Grolnick, Clark University
A psychologist specializing in parenting offers tips to help children self-motivate while at home during the coronavirus crisis.
-
Jon Pedersen, University of South Carolina
School closings due to COVID-19 could prompt school districts to try to make up for lost time during the summer. An education scholar explores the pros and cons of that scenario.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Raymond Scheppach, University of Virginia
As Congress considers further financial help for victims of the coronavirus pandemic, the magnitude of the fiscal crisis that governors and their states will have to face is just starting to emerge.
-
Pardis Mahdavi, Arizona State University
Many teens and college students are continuing to hook up and attend gatherings. Peer pressure and the way younger minds interpret risk could be to blame.
|
|
Economy + Business
|
-
Caroline Bruckner, American University Kogod School of Business
The Small Business Administration is the agency tasked with distributing hundreds of billions of dollars to keep millions of companies alive.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Steven Murawski, University of South Florida; Sherryl Gilbert, University of South Florida
The Deepwater Horizon oil disaster catalyzed a decade of research on oil contamination in the Gulf of Mexico, from surface waters to the seabed, with surprising findings.
|
|
Ethics + Religion
|
-
Kim Haines-Eitzen, Cornell University
Some people are comparing current times with the apocalypse. In ancient texts, apocalyptic messages cultivated endurance and encouragement through dire circumstances.
|
|
Health
|
-
Steven W. Chen, University of Southern California
As the health care system tries to solve the crisis in care around the coronavirus, pharmacists stand ready to help.
|
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Clint Randles, University of South Florida
Musicians around the world can connect with you online as you keep your social distance. Try it!
|
|
Most read on site
|
-
Yang Zhang, University of Michigan; Chengxin Zhang, University of Michigan; Wei Zheng, University of Michigan
When a new virus emerges and triggers a pandemic, it is important to trace its origins. Knowing more about how the virus jumped species in the first place can help curb future zoonotic diseases.
-
Nada R. Sanders, Northeastern University
Modern supply chains have become increasingly efficient, but as a result are more susceptible to disruptions like the one caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
-
Brent Landau, University of Texas at Austin
A scholar explains the rich historical roots of Easter and how it has evolved over the centuries.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|