"COVID-19" Snapshot of Online and Social Media Analysis in Rural North Dakota and West Virginia - June 14 - 21, 2020 - One Country Project

“COVID-19”
Snapshot of Online and Social Media Analysis in Rural
 North Dakota and West Virginia

 June 14 - 21, 2020

Rural Citizens 874 original posts 398 unique authors

Overview
The longevity of COVID-19 is grating on these
rural residents. Conversations are becoming
more detailed about how people might better
help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and
lower the potential for a second wave. This is
accompanied by anger at those seemingly not
playing their part or even denying its
existence.

Consequently, people ask fellow citizens to do
the right thing and wear a mask, suggesting it
is a small infringement on their rights for the
good of others.

President Trump’s decision to appear at a rally
in Tulsa has turned sentiment against him in
these two states for the first time since this
series began. Many accuse him of putting his
own interests before his supporters. In
reaction, some on the right hit back accusing
the media and the left of hypocrisy as having
supported Black Lives Matter protests despite
the existence of COVID-19 – they are willing
to accuse Trump of wilfully spreading the
disease via his rally.

Analysis: Key Takeaways
Citizen Discussion

§ Accompanying the more mundane information sharing is a discussion, which is far more common in other rural
 states. Residents are now seemingly more interested than before in discussing issues like a second wave and
 how people might work together to prevent it.

§ They also appear irritated by other people’s perceived ignorance of the disease and how it spreads.

§ This may be explained by the longevity of the disease as there is a sense of annoyance within the discussions
 that COVID-19 is still hanging around, many restrictions remain in place, and business and jobs are being badly
 damaged.

§ This leads on to a slightly separate discussion where people scold others for not taking the disease seriously.
 They state that such arrogance and selfishness puts others at risk and prolongs the pandemic.

§ And yet there are still plenty of people who feel the number of fatalities are made up or the disease simply does
 not exist.

§ Regardless, one topic of conversation which few could challenge is the impact of COVID-19 and the lockdown on
 mental health, which is omnipresent in these parts.

Analysis: Key Takeaways
Impact Discussion

§ Infection and death rates continue to be sent to others without additional commentary.

§ Among those rueing the cancellation of graduation ceremonies or the postponement of sporting events, some
 speak of the infringement of having to wear a mask.

§ However, similar to the ‘citizen’ discussion, others see the lifestyle changes, which a mask may bring, as a
 necessity in order to protect others.

§ Meanwhile, it seems there are more entrepreneurs trying to save their businesses rather than give up. Yet, the
 current climate is offering insurmountable challenges for many.

§ Two of the main problems mentioned are that some businesses didn’t qualify for relief or that staff are simply
 too scared to go back to work

Analysis: Key Takeaways
Political Discussion

§ Throughout this COVID-19 series, North Dakota and West Virginia have been the least political and generally
 supportive of President Trump when compared to other rural states.

§ This came to an abrupt (though probably temporary), end last week following Trump’s decision to appear at a
 rally in Tulsa.

§ Many are astonished the rally went ahead and masks were not mandatory.

§ They feel Trump was happy to put many people at risk for his own gain and question his leadership.

§ Furthermore, Trump’s suggestion that he slowed down the testing rate in order to lessen the number of
 recorded infections has been received poorly by voters.

§ Naturally Trump can rely on his loyal base to come to his side, defend his record, and point out inconsistences in
 reports by the media and accusations from the left.

§ In particular, they note that much of the left and media were happy to support the Black Lives Matter protests
 without speaking of COVID-19. And yet when Trump holds a rally, he is supposedly putting people in danger.

§ Meanwhile, others implore fellow citizens to read the statistics and better understand that this is not a serious
 disease and is in decline.

Sample Posts
 Impact Discussion
 At least 8 COVID-19 cases in Preston County linked to trips to Myrtle Beach

 I'm all for individual freedom until you infringe upon the rights of another to live. Wearing a mask is nothing
 compared to battling cystic fibrosis with COVID-19.
 We have to wear masks at work now (before it was optional) because y’all wanted to go to the bars and shit and

 got COVID. I’m not mad...I just don’t understand why y’all so hardheaded
 Today was suppose to be my last day of cosmetology school, but thanks to corona it was pushed back another

 month.
 Being at work today is so stressful because I feel like I’m gonna get corona.

 I live in Morgantown and I was denied Pandemic Unemployment benefits. Is this something you deal with in your
 practice. I am considering appealing.

Sample Posts
 Citizen Discussion
 Don't even try to convince yourself that the problem has gone away, it hasn't. #COVID19 is still out there, is as

 deadly as it ever was, and is still spreading. Things are re-opening and our leaders are pretending everything is fine,
 but still protect yourself.
 Everyone just remember that COVID-19 was largely ignored in Italy early on. Very bad outcome. Sweden didn't

 lock down and they had way more deaths than the surrounding countries that did. Social distancing, handwashing,
 and masks WORK.
 All but one of my adult children and their partners are essential workers, two in healthcare, so they have been out

 serving other Americans throughout the pandemic and will continue to do so. It enrages me that people are so
 incredibly selfish and increase their risk.
 INCREASED more COVID cases, and all because of this fucking rally- it’s a small town, and even scientifically

 proven the cases will increase. Talking in how I even still need to come to work, and people are as ignorant and
 selfish.
 Mentally, COVID-19 has intensified my anxiety 10 fold. My panic attacks have increased to lasting hours if not

 days. I have to go to work in a warehouse that is not offering any cleaning supplies or even hand sanitizer. We have
 to supply our own. I am in constant panic mode.

Sample Posts
 Political Discussion
 Trump having a political rally during a pandemic and having the attendees sign a waiver should go down in

 history. That should show how much he cares for his supporters and how important he thinks he is. He is more or less
 saying it’s ok if you die for me.
 All that booing is spewing droplets of coronavirus all over the place.

 He did not mention false positives. He specifically said he had the tests slowed down. He CONFESSED to that in
 front of people. Hes a murderer. You dont SLOW down tests during a pandemic. Wtf is wrong with you? Stop
 defending him. Wake up.
 Lol...the MSM only praises and encourages large crowds if there is protesting. Political rallies are dangerous & will

 spread the virus. But COVID doesn’t spread at protests.
 The LEFT will DISCRACE a Trump Rally! With COVID spreading BUT! BUT! SAID NOTHING! ABOUT PROTESTERS N

 RIOTERS!,Spreading COVID and blue state Governors even took a knee Right Next to them! DON'T BELIEVE THE
 HYPE!.003% WILL GET THIS CHINA VIRUS! OPEN OUR ECONOMY THE PPL ARE DONE!!
 Only willfully idiotic people are still concerned about COVID. The more testing that’s done, the lower the death

 rate dives.

CORONAVIRUS RURAL CONVERSATION – DISCUSSION VOLUME (BY DAY)

Prepared for One Country Project
 by

Methodology
This analysis is based on collected, publicly available, online data, geo-located to rural populations in the two states from
June 14 – 21, 2020 related to COVID-19. In total, 874 posts from 398 authors were collected across the two states.

Randomized, representative samples of these conversations were analyzed after removing shares, retweets, repetition,
media, and influencers from the dataset to focus solely on the views of local citizens. These conversations were then scored
– positive, negative, or neutral.