I just drove from Charlotte, North Carolina, USA to Durham, North Carolina, USA. In-between, I stopped at a Sheetz gas station. There was a line of about 15 people at the register.

About 4 of them were wearing a mask, all Latino. The rest were old white men that looked like local farmers, all maskless.

In the USA, there is a massive disconnect between Rural and Urban. I don't think the disconnected Rural population ever realized the gravity of COVID, because they could not personally witness it.

In Charlotte Uptown, everyone complies. In Rural areas, compliance is Abnormal and commonly paired with antivaccine sentiment. My own sister is one of these people that lives in the country and believes the vaccine is stupid and will kill people. Her husband is a cop and she has multiple young children who they refuse to vaccinate.

The problem is stark. I can't even help her as family.