Did the Rural Health Infrastructure Break Down During the Pandemic? Evidence from the 2020 Meatpacking Plant COVID-19 Outbreaks

This webinar will present findings from a recent study examining the strain that COVID-19 outbreaks in meatpacking plants placed on rural healthcare systems. Using individual death certificate data from Minnesota and South Dakota, the study reveals that while direct COVID-19 deaths among meatpacking workers were relatively low, surrounding communities experienced substantial excess mortality, much of it unrelated to COVID-19. These results suggest that rural hospitals, with limited staffing and financial resources, were forced into triaging care during peak outbreaks. The discussion will highlight implications for strengthening rural health infrastructure and workforce resilience in future crises.

Presenter:

• Thomas P. Krumel, Jr., Assistant Professor, Department of Agribusiness and Applied Economics North Dakota State University

Thomas Krumel is an applied economist whose research focuses on rural health, labor, and regional development. His recent work examines how industry shocks, such as COVID-19 outbreaks in meatpacking, shape community health outcomes and strain rural infrastructure.

Registration: https://bit.ly/473jWKZ