QUINTER, Kansas ‒ Joni Kerns coughed into her surgical mask as she welcomed a customer at the Dairy Queen, which she has run for 25 years.

Kerns is currently battling her sixth case of COVID-19, which she believes she contracted during a recent bucket-list visit to Las Vegas.

“I’m surviving so far,” she remarked. “Still here.”

Almost five years since the coronavirus began to spread globally, its effects continue to influence how Americans live, work, eat, and interact with their neighbors. The virus was first reported for international awareness on January 1, 2020.

The outbreak triggered intense debates nationwide regarding masks, social distancing, school closures, business shutdowns, and vaccination mandates.

In the small town of Quinter, like many other places, the aftermath of COVID-19 sparked ongoing disagreements about the government’s role in public health. It bred distrust among longtime neighbors and eroded community bonds. Conversations dwindled. Some patrons stopped visiting a local restaurant that enforced mask policies, contributing to its eventual closure due to a lack of customers. Healthcare professionals left their jobs out of frustration and fear.

Kerns mentioned that COVID-19 worsened her diabetes, affected her husband’s hearing, and contributed to heart issues for her daughter.

Despite these challenges, she decided against further vaccinations after the initial doses. Currently, she is also battling the flu and mentioned she might consider the flu vaccine next time, but not for COVID-19—despite being aware of the risks associated with long COVID, such as brain fog and breathlessness.

“I trust that God is in control. If it’s my time, then it’s my time,” she expressed, coughing once more.

Fueling resentment and dividing the community

During a period in late 2020, Gove County—home to Quinter—recorded the highest COVID-19 death rate in the nation, largely due to an outbreak in a local nursing home. In just a few days, 17 elderly residents passed away from a population of only 2,600.

Across Kansas, around 10,000 residents and more than 1.2 million Americans succumbed to the virus, as reported by federal health authorities. Approximately 3.5% of Americans experience lingering symptoms lasting more than three months post-COVID-19 infection, according to a December study.

Initially, many residents in areas like Quinter hoped the worst of the pandemic would bypass them. The nearest major city, Denver, is about 250 miles to the west, while Kansas City lies 300 miles to the east. However, Interstate 70 runs alongside Quinter, and Joni Kerns’ Dairy Queen is a favored stop for travelers.

Quinter has a small grocery store and a Dollar General, but for anything else, residents must drive 50 miles to reach a Walmart or similar stores.

No one can pinpoint exactly when the coronavirus first emerged in Quinter, but by early November 2020, it began claiming lives at the nursing home, which included the town’s unofficial historian and a dedicated community volunteer. Experts had warned that elderly individuals with preexisting health issues were at the highest risk. Like many rural areas, Gove County’s residents tend to be older, poorer, and sicker than those in cities.

In this tight-knit community, people often know intimate details about each other’s lives, such as which neighbors are on diet medications, the cars they drive, and their likely takeout orders at Melanie’s Kitchen Asian Cuisine, making social interactions unavoidable.

“There’s still a lot of anger,” stated Undersheriff Mike Haase. “I know that COVID-related decisions have damaged relationships between people.”

the passing of longtime Gove County Sheriff Allan Weber, who passed away in December 2020 after a two-month fight against COVID-19 in a Denver hospital. During the pandemic, Haase was part of a core group of local leaders managing the county’s Emergency Operations Center. He expressed frustration over how health protection measures turned into heated political disputes, especially at a time when lives were at stake.

“I lost some really good friends and a fantastic boss,” Haase remarked.

In August 2020, right before the deaths began, Gove County officials mandated public mask-wearing but reversed their decision two weeks later due to angry responses from residents.

Simultaneously, someone reported the county’s COVID-19 information Facebook page as fake news anonymously, resulting in its temporary removal just as officials were aiming to alert the public about the impending danger. A high school teacher who encouraged vaccination by offering extra credit faced the risk of being fired.

Local leaders noted that the challenges were intensified by then-President Donald Trump’s inconsistent messaging on mask efficacy, the threat of the virus, and the advisability of vaccination, even though he financed the vaccine’s development. Trump received 88% of the vote in Gove County during both the 2020 and 2024 elections.

Similar to many small towns, Gove County tends to be more conservative compared to the national average, partly due to the presence of the Dunkard Brethren – a German Protestant denomination. Followers of this faith dress in traditional, old-fashioned clothing, including bonnets and long dresses for women, and do not have televisions in their homes.

Rural America at a Crossroads

Keith Orejel, a history professor specializing in rural America, mentioned that ongoing studies suggest the coronavirus might ultimately be regarded as a “particularly cruel capstone” atop the ongoing issues faced by communities like Quinter, where the paved downtown roads give way to dirt tracks through corn and sorghum fields.

He pointed out that the population in rural areas across the nation has been gradually declining, as job opportunities increasingly shift to urban settings. Orejel, who teaches at Wilmington College in Ohio, noted that while COVID-19 caused a slight increase in rural populations as remote workers moved to small towns, he predicts this trend will soon reverse.

According to Orejel, COVID-19 posed unique risks to the social structures of small towns since social distancing rules disrupted long-standing traditions of volunteerism and community ties. He observed that older residents who typically participated in community activities such as the Elks club or planning meetings—the heart of rural life—found themselves isolated and largely ceased involvement.

“Once you step away from volunteering, it can be very challenging to come back,” Orejel stated. “These issues have long affected rural communities, especially over the past couple of decades, and it’s highly likely that COVID intensified these challenges.”

Haase, the undersheriff, witnesses the decline of community involvement daily. Besides serving as one of the few law enforcement officers, he also oversees the local ambulance service and finds it increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers. He noted that this is a pressing issue, as Gove County has experienced a rise in drug overdoses since the pandemic began.

He has also observed an increase in mental health problems and has seen a diminishing respect for law enforcement and government in general from his point of view as a deputy.

“There are individuals I know who dislike me, but I’m still going to assist them,” he shared. “This isn’t about being popular. It’s about saving as many lives as we can.”

One of the establishments hit hardest by the pandemic in Quinter is the Gove County Medical Center, a modest campus of low-rise buildings located on the town’s western side. It serves as the area’s largest employer, providing around 160 jobs. Additionally, it managed the local nursing home and has become a point of both hope and frustration for residents.

In summer 2023, the hospital administration decided to close the nursing home, citing that federal reimbursement for patient care was not keeping up with costs, jeopardizing the clinic’s financial stability. The closure of the 29-resident nursing home, said Gove County Medical Center CEO Conner Fiscarelli, was necessary for the hospital’s financial health.

Many residents of Gove County were left frustrated by the closure, as it required their elderly parents to be moved to other care facilities located 50 miles away. Additionally, some individuals hold the belief that the hospital’s decision to hire staffing agencies to fill staffing gaps was the initial cause of COVID-19 entering the facility.

Nationwide, over 770 nursing homes have closed since 2020, resulting in nearly 30,000 residents being displaced, according to an August report from the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living.

Amid the frustration of some Gove County residents regarding the closure of the nursing home, 56% of voters recently approved a continuation of the existing sales tax to support the hospital. Fiscarelli noted the strong participation in hospital-sponsored events, indicating that the sense of community in Quinter remains resilient.

“Healthcare and education are crucial for maintaining the vitality of small towns,” Fiscarelli commented. “Our goal is to support each other, and that’s what makes small communities thrive.”

Looking Forward

Kerns, the owner of Dairy Queen, shares her discontent over the hospital’s handling of the nursing home closure. However, she also recognizes the challenges of finding employees. Due to staffing shortages, her restaurant occasionally shuts down, prompting her to consider selling the business to retire.

She is disappointed that no one from Quinter is interested in purchasing the restaurant, attributing this hesitation to the decline in community connection that she believes has worsened since COVID-19. Unlike previous years, there are now several homes and many vacant commercial spaces in the small downtown area.

Concerned about the future of her hometown post-pandemic, she reflects on how relationships have changed and the ongoing economic challenges.

“People seem unwilling to put in the necessary effort,” she remarked. “COVID altered us significantly. It truly did.”