The Covid-19 pandemic continues to move through the world and the U.S. unlike any disease we have seen before. Early on in the pandemic, the experts identified the risk factors that would predispose a person to getting Covid-19. This included people age 65 and older, people with underlying illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes, men more than women and obese individuals.
For the most part these groups have proven to be the most sickened by the virus and with higher mortality rates. Across the country, high death rates have been reported in long-term care facilities that house elderly patients and patients with underlying illnesses. Unfortunately, factors like staffing, overcrowding, and lack of infection prevention practices have also attributed to the rapid transmission of the virus in these facilities.
Communities disproportionally affected by Covid-19
Recently reported statistics on affected cases are identifying another group that is at risk for getting Covid-19. That being the African American and minority communities. Coronavirus “hot spots” have been described in cities with large non-white populations, such as New Orleans and Detroit, which have high numbers of Covid-19 cases and higher mortality rates. New York is another city with large numbers of cases in minority areas, such as the boroughs of Queens and the Bronx. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), African Americans make up 30 percent of the Covid-19 cases and Latinos at 17 percent of the cases. Co-morbidities that make an individual more vulnerable to Covid-19 such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease are more prevalent in the African American and minority populations and are causing this group to have higher mortality rates. This disparity in disease development has been seen in other conditions. For instance, studies have shown that non-whites are more likely to develop complications from diabetes such as stroke due to poor medical management. This medical disparity can increase the chances of non-whites to having poor outcomes once infected with Covid-19.
Other contributing factors
Access to medical care is another factor that can influence the course of a Covid-19 event in the African-American and minority population. Many healthcare facilities in non-white neighborhoods have been closed due to funding therefore many people do not have a primary physician or a clinic where they can be followed. Many individuals choose not to seek routine medical care and thus can develop severe chronic conditions that lead to negative outcomes and death.
Another factor contributing to the African American and minority acquisition of Covid-19 is the type of work they do. Most essential jobs, such as healthcare workers, food service, grocery store clerks and transportation workers are often people of color and minority groups. The control measures to prevent Covid-19 transmission is not always easy to maintain in these jobs, such as social distancing and the availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Not having the proper PPE to wear or not keeping the proper distance from infected individuals can increase a persons chance of getting Covid-19.
Living in densely populated areas in large housing complexes is another contributing factor to why African American and minority groups may be getting infected with Covid-19. Given the way the coronavirus is transmitted, through droplets generated when individuals cough, sneeze or speak the ability for the virus to spread when people live in close proximity is increased.
Lastly, public health information on the prevention strategies for Covid-19 was lacking in African American and minority neighborhoods. Many activists and local political leaders felt the information disseminated in these neighborhoods were either lacking or inconsistent with federal guidelines.
Is it the virus or the system?
In looking at the disparity in healthcare and the higher mortality rates of Covid-19 in the African American and minority groups, public health officials, political officials and healthcare leaders need to look at this more in-depth. Is it the lack of adequate healthcare access, living conditions, occupation and the dissemination of healthcare information, that resulted in poor outcomes for this group? Hopefully, the healthcare community has recognized and acknowledged these factors and has begun to address them to mitigate the further spread of Covid-19 in this high- risk group.