Rural Health
News by Topic: Statistics and data
Feb 26, 2021 - Summarizes research that tracks the public's attitudes and experiences with COVID-19 vaccinations as of February 2021. Key findings report that 55 percent of U.S. adults either have received at least one dose of the vaccine or say they will get it as soon as possible, describes COVID-19 vaccine enthusiasm by age, rurality, and race and ethnicity, as well as other demographics.
Source: Kaiser Family Foundation
Feb 25, 2021 - Opinion article discussing an index that assesses barriers
to determine county-level readiness for mass vaccination.
The index is based on 28 indicators that are grouped into
five categories: historic undervaccination, socioeconomic
barriers, low healthcare resources, poor healthcare access,
and irregular medical care. Highlights other challenges and
concerns that can impact vaccination efforts in rural
populations.
Source: New York Times
Feb 24, 2021 - The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking comments on an information collection request for continued approval of the Rural Health Clinic (RHC) COVID-19 Testing Program Data Collection. Comments are due by March 26, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 23, 2021 - Analyzes new COVID-19 infection and death rates between February 14-20, 2021 and finds that the number of COVID-related deaths in rural America dropped by a third, the most significant decline in the rural death rate in more than a month. Additionally, the rate of new infections last week fell by about 30 percent in both metropolitan and rural counties.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Census Bureau: Urban Areas for the 2020 Census-Proposed Criteria
Federal Register
Feb 19, 2021 - The Census Bureau is seeking comments on proposed criteria for defining urban areas based on the 2020 decennial census. Proposed changes include adopting a housing unit density threshold of 385 housing units per square mile as the primary criterion for determining whether a census block qualifies for inclusion in an urban area and that an area will qualify as urban if it contains at least 4,000 housing units or has a population of at least 10,000. The Census Bureau also proposes to no longer differentiate urbanized areas from smaller urban areas. Comments are due by May 20, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 16, 2021 - Analyzes new COVID-19 infection rates in the U.S. between February 7-13, 2021. Finds that while the number of new infections in rural counties fell to the lowest level since October 2020, COVID-related deaths grew slightly. Includes a county map of COVID-19 infection rates, as well as data on the weekly rates of new deaths and new infections since June 2020.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Feb 11, 2021 - Analysis of employment rates in 2020 finds that the nation shed jobs in November and December, reversing gains in employment made in the late spring after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural areas had over three percent fewer jobs in December 2020 compared to December 2019, but major metropolitan areas experienced the most job losses in 2020.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Feb 10, 2021 - Analyzes new COVID-19 infection rates between January 31-February 6, 2021. Found a decline in new infections in rural areas for the fourth week in a row, but a slight increase in COVID-related deaths. Reports other key findings comparing rural and urban death rates, red-zone county classifications, and test positivity rates.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Feb 9, 2021 - The Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) Methods Panel is seeking comments and burden estimates on proposed tests related to self-response, group quarters, and nonresponse follow-up data collection operations. Tests will focus on methods for reducing data collection costs, improving data quality, improving the respondent experience, revising content, and testing new questions for the Decennial Census Program. Comments are due by April 12, 2021.
Source: Federal Register
Feb 8, 2021 - The Census Bureau is seeking public comments on a proposed information collection regarding emergency economic information collections (EEIC) in response to unanticipated international, national or regional emergencies. The proposed information collection will allow the Census Bureau to submit quick turnaround clearance requests to the Office of Management and Budget when future emergencies arise. Comments are due by April 9, 2021.
Source: Federal Register