ABSTRACT
COVID-19 pandemic has devastated large urban areas across the country. Most rural areas have so far been able to avoid the initial surge in cases due to the low population density. However, as the pandemic advances, rural areas are at an increased risk for the second wave of the epidemic. Rural areas are especially vulnerable due to the older population, higher comorbidities, and lack of access to healthcare. This field report discusses the experiences and issues faced by the rural Appalachian community during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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The contents of the paper and the opinions expressed within are those of the authors, and it was the decision of the authors to submit the manuscript for publication.
Declaration of interest
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
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Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.