Small rural hospitals — also known as critical access hospitals — have struggled with an influx of critically ill COVID-19 patients during the omicron surge. But they have fewer clinical resources, which means they've suffered disproportionately from the effects of a jammed-up health care system. During the omicron surge, staff at small hospitals often have to scour the region for available beds while patients wait, making dozens and dozens of calls.

During the third wave of the pandemic in the U.S., areas with low vaccine coverage endured far more Covid-19 cases than highly vaccinated areas, according to a new peer reviewed study published in JAMA Network Open, underscoring the large-scale benefits of vaccination in controlling the virus.

The vast majority—more than 80%—of counties with low vaccination rates were in rural areas, which the researchers said face many challenges in responding to the pandemic compared to urban areas.

Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory on youth mental health, saying the pandemic has increased mental health issues in the country’s children. The report said living in rural areas and having limited access to school or accessing mental health services puts rural children at greater risk of having mental health challenges. “Since the pandemic began, rates of psychological distress among young people, including symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders, have increased,” the advisory said.

Hospitals in the U.S. are struggling to staff medical facilities as a wave of Covid-19 cases sidelines healthcare workers. Some hospital administrators are being forced to turn to last-resort measures to ensure quality of care.