COVID-19 Hits America’s Suburbs, G irls’ Education in Mexico, and More

April 23, 2020

There is a stereotypical view of the places in America that COVID-19 has affected most, writes William Frey. They are broadly urban, comprised predominantly of racial minorities, and strongly vote Democratic. While this perception was accurate during the pandemic’s early stages, new analysis from Frey shows that the virus has shifted to counties that are more suburban, whiter, and voted more strongly for Donald Trump.

Because of their physical distance from schools and gender norms that keep them at home, Mexico’s rural indigenous girls are in great need of distance education programs that can be consumed safely during the coronavirus pandemic. María Cristina Osorio Vázquez highlights several red flags that must be addressed to ensure effective learning.

How can the U.S. military remain combat-ready, and thus fully capable of deterrence globally, until a vaccine is available to troops? Thomas Burke, Chesley Dycus, Mike O’Hanlon, Eric Reid, and Jessica Worst recommend steps the U.S. military can take now to retain its effectiveness during a long pandemic.

A note on the Brookings response to COVID-19:

The Brookings Institution campus in Washington, D.C. will be closed through at least June 1. For more information, read our full guidance here. As Brookings experts continue to assess the global impacts of COVID-19, read the latest analysis and policy recommendations at our coronavirus page or stay up to date with our coronavirus newsletter.

The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars.

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