Lauren Hughes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus et Roberto Silva, University of Colorado Denver
Coronavirus cases have risen sharply across the Mountain West, Midwest and plains. Over 70% of nonmetropolitan counties are now “red zones,” suggesting viral spread is out of control.
Rural patients’ self-reliance means they often wait until it’s too late to visit hospital, while the closing of state borders has restricted the movement of some fly-in fly-out health workers.
Being able to identify communities that are susceptible to the pandemic ahead of time would allow officials to target public health interventions to slow the spread of the infection and avoid deaths.
Tim Adair, The University of Melbourne et Alan Lopez, The University of Melbourne
There is a large and widening gap between the richest and poorest Australians in terms of risk of dying before the age of 75, according to a study tracking the trend from 2006-16.
Timothy Baker, Deakin University; Emma Tumilty, Deakin University et Kristy Hess, Deakin University
Rural communities have become resentful of city residents swooping in for food, medical supplies and shelter in vacation homes. We need a better strategy for allocating resources in the pandemic.
The government wants more people to live in Australia’s north. So we looked at three scenarios to increase the population and the results don’t always look good for the north.
Think moving won’t change you? You might want to rethink that. To feel ‘at home’ you need to accept the new place where you live as part of your changing identity.
National programs have not yielded improved achievement rates in schools. We need to empower local people to take responsibility and collaborate to develop programs.