The last COVID-free counties in America

Americans watched as the novel coronavirus swept through the country this year, eyes glued to colorful maps tracking the virus like a storm as it blasted through New York, spread through meatpacking plants in the Midwest and ravaged schools and nursing homes in the South and West.

Rural and isolated areas are the opposite of a monolith. America's last COVID-free counties span the oil fields of Texas, high desert towns in Nevada, a popular Alaskan port city and a Hawaiian peninsula where historically, patients with leprosy were forced to live in isolation. It's a land of wide-open skies and few people. Until an oil boom that picked up about a decade ago, Carr said, there was nothing, not even telephones lines, to obscure the sunset.

Not counting the oil worker infections is a relic of the Trump administration's decision not to count COVID-19 cases from cruise ships in states' COVID-19 tallies, explained Caballero. Skagway Municipality, Alaska: 'You're trying to curse us.'"You’re trying to curse us," Brad Ryan, the city manager, told ABC News when asked about Skagway's zero COVID-19 cases.

Skagway is also doing a significant level amount of COVID testing for a rural area. As of mid-October, Skagway had conducted more than 700 tests at its three public COVID-19 testing sites, a number which doesn't include additional testing conducted by private providers.

"The average age is 86 and they have numerous medical conditions," Wasserman said of the remaining patients. Because their age and underlying conditions make patients especially vulnerable to COVID-19 complications, the settlement has strict policies in place to protect them. Patients and staff aren't allowed visitors and if they leave the settlement and return, they're required to quarantine. Staff temperatures are monitored and social distancing and mask wearing are enforced.

"We have to be prepared for getting cases of COVID-19 and in the meantime do our best to prevent any infections," he added."It only takes one person coming in who is infected."

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

A New Film Exposes Just How Badly The United States Mishandled COVID-19See an exclusive clip from the new documentary 'Totally Under Control,' which chronicles the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: HuffPostWomen - 🏆 27. / 68 Read more »

21 states have hit their peak 7-day average of new Covid-19 cases this weekCNN News, delivered. Select from our newsletters below and enter your email to subscribe. That's because it took more time to move to less dense populated areas. You don't scare me FakeNewsMedia Report this This proves MASK DON’T WORK!!!!!
Source: CNN - 🏆 4. / 95 Read more »

In U.S. Midwest states, new COVID-19 infections rise to record highsWisconsin and other states in the U.S. Midwest are battling a surge in COVID-19 cases, with new infections and hospitalizations rising to record levels in an ominous sign of a nationwide resurgence as temperatures get colder. What are the death rates? but deaths continue to fall .... just saying ... Trump has been taking his traveling band of idiots around the midwest while begging for votes. Pathetic and weak.
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

Report: Gulf states using Covid-19 as cover to squash dissentAmnesty International says that Covid-19 measures have been used by Gulf states like the UAE and Saudi Arabia to silence opposition 100% correct TRT! Oh I thought it was Erdogan freeing mafias from prisons to protect him and silence his people cuz he’s screwed!
Source: trtworld - 🏆 101. / 63 Read more »

United Airlines slashes costs to prepare for eventual COVID-19 reboundUnited Airlines said on Wednesday it cut operating costs by 59% in the third quarter and had nearly $20 billion of liquidity to position it for an eventual recovery from the COVID-19 crisis that has hammered global airlines. cool pic! Slashes costs = bodies in the streets Economy minus for all ☺️
Source: Reuters - 🏆 2. / 97 Read more »

Alabama Coach Nick Saban Tests Positive for Covid-19 as Virus Disrupts SECAlabama head coach Nick Saban tested positive for Covid-19 and two of the SEC’s seven games this weekend were postponed after outbreaks on the Vanderbilt and Florida rosters. Jeez... it’s making the rounds again. Hunter Biden tests positive for meth
Source: WSJ - 🏆 98. / 63 Read more »