After the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic, every country started applying different measures to stop its spread and treat people. Health officials in New Orleans realized that African American low-income neighborhoods are hot spots for the virus.
As a result, officials started using a different strategy, sending mobile vans for testing in these areas. People were offended by this racial strategy. The latest data shows that the death ratio of African Americans is three times higher than that of white people.
The American Public Media (APM) nonpartisan research laboratory has released its new figures titled “Colors of Coronavirus”. This report offers evidence of an astounding divide in death rates, due to COVID-19, between African Americans and the remaining people.
In the country, the death rate for black Americans is 50.3 in every 100,000 people, which is more than double, when compared to other people: 22.7 in Asian Americans, 22.9 in Latinos, and 20.7 in Americans in general. Over 20,000 African Americans have died in the USA from this disease.
The Statistics Are Different in Each State
Limited national data is available to track outcomes of COVID-19 by race, local municipalities and states started sharing their numbers one by one. The major hotspots of the disease are Louisiana, Illinois, and New York. In Louisiana, 70% COVID-19 deaths are among African Americans.
In Michigan almost 14% of the population was infected, and the death rate is 40%. Moreover, the death rate in Chicago is 56%, with 30% of the total population infected. The death rate among black people in New York is two times higher than that of white people.
The Trump administration has had a lazy response to this crisis. The disparities are clearly reflected in the data available. Lack of guidance from the Federal Government is becoming another problem. Unfortunately, the government has no plan to deal with this situation.
Racial Tracking of COVID-19
Data collection of the COVID-19 pandemic can be divided by race or ethnic group. Deaths from Coronavirus in African Americans are two times higher than that of the remaining population. In the previously mentioned four states, the rate is three times higher.
Why Are Black Americans at a Disadvantage?
African Americans face higher rates of underlying health conditions, such as lung disease, heart disease, and diabetes; these conditions are associated with severe Coronavirus cases, leading to more deaths.
Unfortunately, black Americans lack access to treatment and diagnostic testing for the disease. According to Nunez Smith, these people have limited access to good health care facilities, despite making up a disproportionate part of frontline job workers – as a result, their exposure to the virus is increased.
Several reports highlight that this pandemic hit black Americans more severely. Comorbidities, such as diabetes and hypertension are tied to complications with COVID-19, and disproportionately impact the African American community.
Infections in Hispanics
Hispanics and Latinos also test positive for the virus at a higher rate when compared to other peoples. In Virginia, for instance, there are over 12,000 cases, and 49% of these correspond to minority individuals.
Similar to African Americans, there are more Latinos in essential services. As a result, they are more exposed to the virus. Multi-generational dense housing conditions, and poverty, further encourage the spread of the virus.
The uneven number of deaths is not as stark for Latinos as it is for African Americans. The main reason is that their population is younger when compared to African Americans. Unfortunately, data from smaller minorities is not available. There are 136 deaths among Native Americans from COVID-19.
Limited Protections to Prevent Exposure
Mainly, black-dominated counties of the United States are facing infection at a three-fold higher rate, and their death rate is six times higher when compared to white counties. Most of these communities are poor zones with higher housing density, higher unemployment rates, and restricted access to educational opportunities. Undoubtedly, low socioeconomic rank is an independent risk factor when considering the current Coronavirus pandemic.