Researchers used funding from the NIH-supported RADx-UP program to better understand barriers in underserved communities – rural and urban, as well as racial and ethnic minority populations – in Kansas. The most commonly reported barrier was fear of lost income or employment resulting from quarantine. Common barriers reported in both rural and urban communities were access issues, such as lack of transportation and lack of support for languages other than English. Three subthemes appeared to be dominant in rural counties. Under the theme of “political beliefs,” the subtheme “politicization of COVID-19 mitigation and response efforts” was an identified barrier for most rural counties. See Approaching Deadlines below for a RADx-UP opportunity that closes in January.
