Covid spreading twice as fast in Republican counties than Democrat ones, report says
The rate of coronavirus infections is about twice as high in Republican counties as in Democrat counties amid a surge in cases due to the Delta variant, a new report has said.
The Washington Post reported that there have been about 126 new cases per 100,000 residents of blue counties and 278 new cases per 100,000 residents of red ones.
The newspaper says there have been about 237,000 new coronavirus cases recorded in counties that voted for Joe Biden last year while 388,000 for Donald Trump.
Areas are seeing a localised rise in cases due to the more transmissible Delta variant, which now accounts for more than 80 per cent of US coronavirus cases.
An Ipsos poll taken at the start of the vaccination rollout revealed that “Republicans, Black Americans, and those with a high school diploma or less” were more likely to be hesitant of the vaccine.
The New York Times reported in April that vaccination rates were lower on average in counties of which the majority voted for Mr Trump in the 2020 election.
