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Per the Kaiser Health News chart, above, San Francisco, with a population of 864,263, and an aged (60+) population of 179,193, has only 532 Residents aged 60+ per each ICU bed.
Contrast that with a small town, San Juan, Utah, with a total population of only 15,193 which has 2,833 seniors (60+) per ICU bed, and there's only 1 ICU bed in the whole town.
Plus, we have a very pro-active Governor in California, and he's doing a great job trying to keep us all safe and healthy.
Definitely. I heard a NYC emergency room doctor say "America is about to become Italy" e.g., rampant cases and suffering nationwide and I disagree because America is waaaaay more spread out, and rural parts of America just won't see as many cases as LA, or NYC, or Chicago-- not even when adjusting downward for relative per capita population. In my humble opinion and all that. Feel safe here in rural North Carolina.
Let's be honest. OVER HALF of the cases are in ONE metropolitan area.
And most of the other cases are in our largest cities (New Orleans, LA, Detroit, etc.).
Full stop.
Wow, so many city dwellers coming on here to say how there's no difference between urban and rural. I guess they are desperate and jealous.
[quote=Lekrii;57683071]Why do you think people in cities are freaking out?
I see people in rural areas stocking up on guns/ammo, and see people in cities working together to get through this. I feel much safer in a city right now that I would in a rural area.[/QUOTE]
I'm old, but I don't consider my life completely full yet, and you don't get to decide that for me, so bugger off, kid.
As for feeling safer in a small town these days, sure, the fewer people I run into, the better.
Gotta spread it around...but, you tell him. Is it wrong of me to think he might deserve a little 'comeuppance' for that cavalier attitude?
I live in the same county as Submariner, about 40 miles southwest (less as the crow flies). He's good people despite what a certain 'world citizen' would like to have people think. I definitely feel much 'safer' here. We have had 16 confirmed cases in the county, 8 of whom have recovered.
I went out to the local (small) grocery store for a few things I wanted to get before the lockdown went into effect (I am otherwise well-stocked and can grow my own food, as well as having about 600+ lbs of honey available for barter and conversion to alcohol), despite the low number of cases, everyone was very polite and observant of 'social distancing'. Some were wearing gloves, a few had masks on. The risk here is relatively low, and it will hopefully stay that way due to people being so conscientious about it.
I have two hospitals about 20 miles to the east of me, and a third about 20 miles to the west. If necessary, I would probably opt for driving to the hospital, rather than waiting for an ambulance. I have oxygen tanks available, should that be needed.
I would much, much rather be here than in a major metro area. This thing spreads like wildfire in population-dense areas, how close the medical facilities are is irrelevant when they are overwhelmed and can provide you no help. I think it is much better not to need them, than to need them and not be able to use them because they are overloaded.
Anyone who does not take this thing seriously, and the measures designed to slow the spread, should read up on the 'Spanish Flu' epidemic of 1918. This has the potential to be as bad or worse, and it is not likely to be over anywhere near as quickly as some people want to think (or want *us* to think). The 1918 event occurred in waves, and it would not surprise me if this does too.
- U.S. rural populations are older, on average, than urban populations
- Rural areas suffer from a "mortality penalty" due to high unemployment, and chronic financial stress, compared with urban areas
- 1 in 4 rural hospitals are vulnerable to being shuttered. 150 have been closed over the past decade.
- Rural counties have a total of only 5,600 I.C.U. beds, as compared to 50,000 I.C.U. beds in urban counties.
- Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services has recently expanded the authority for telemedicine, by authorizing payments for telemedical services (consultation between patients and doctors by Skype). However, many remote rural western ranching areas have no broadband access, and spotty telephone service.
Last edited by slowlane3; 04-07-2020 at 09:46 AM..
- U.S. rural populations are older, on average, than urban populations
- Rural areas suffer from a "mortality penalty" due to high unemployment, and chronic financial stress, compared with urban areas
- 1 in 4 rural hospitals are vulnerable to being shuttered. 150 have been closed over the past decade.
- Rural counties have a total of only 5,600 I.C.U. beds, as compared to 50,000 I.C.U. beds in urban counties.
- Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services has recently expanded the authority for telemedicine, by authorizing payments for telemedical services (consultation between patients and doctors by Skype). However, many remote rural western ranching areas have no broadband access, and spotty telephone service.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nonesuch
Yet what region has the highest per-capita infection rate and highest COVID-19 mortality rate?
New York City and the adjacent counties.
Weird.
slowlane3 does focus on the older people and health compromised individuals. Right now there is really no place safe for those subsets of the population. For younger and healthy people rural areas are definitely safer due to inherently greater social distances and lack of international transportation facilities.
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