Rural America, including Appalachia and the Pennsylvania Wilds, is uniquely vulnerable to health and economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Rural economies have a higher than national average demographic aged 65+, more chronic illness and poverty, and dramatically lower access to hospitals and critical care, new technologies, internet access, and capital.





In particular, rural economies are not yet equipped to make localized, data driven decisions for public health and local economies. Data driven decision making relies on technology platforms and infrastructure that are not in place for most rural municipalities, rural healthcare systems, county governments and businesses, such as GIS mapping software. Many rural municipalities still do not have broadband access, nor online communications platforms like a website to share consistent and official public health and business information.



A Google search for “rural” and “covid” will display a range of national articles that detail these risk factors. This localized information for rural PA has been compiled as an unofficial, free resource by Kristin Lewis. Data provided by Johns Hopkins University and mapping technology by Esri.