Researchers at Texas A&M have found that rural Americans are less likely to follow COVID-19 guidelines than urban Americans. In a study published in The Journal of Rural Health, researchers looked at eight different preventative behaviors the CDC has recommended people perform to help reduce the spread of the virus. People who lived in rural areas were much less likely to wear a mask, sanitize their homes or workplaces, avoid dining out, or work from home. On one hand, you could argue rural Americans are more conservative politically, which might affect their attitudes toward the restrictions. But these communities are also more spread out, so residents might be less concerned about spreading or catching the virus compared to people who live in densely packed cities.