**Health Care Shortages Hinder Covid Fight in Rural U.S.**
*(CNN)* – With the highly transmissible Omicron variant continuing to ravage the United States, the nation’s rural regions are facing a dire shortage of health care resources, putting communities at risk and straining a system already pushed to its limits.
According to the National Rural Health Association, more than 120 rural hospitals have closed since 2010, leaving many communities without access to essential medical services. This shortage is particularly concerning in light of the ongoing pandemic, as rural areas have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.
In Kansas, for example, the state’s largest rural hospital, Hays Medical Center, is currently experiencing a surge in Covid-19 patients, with nearly every bed in the intensive care unit occupied. The hospital is struggling to keep up with the demand, and patients are being forced to wait hours for care.
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