How COVID-19 Impacts Minority Communities | Mount Sinai Today
The COVID-19 pandemic has hit African American, Hispanic, and poor communities across the United States particularly hard. The health disparities that existed before COVID-19 have been greatly exacerbated, with a disproportionate impact on these communities. The questions are why, and what to do about it.
In this interview, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai professor and public health research scientist Luz Claudio, PhD, discusses the impact of Covid-19 within black and hispanic communities. Dr. Claudio first speaks to the health disparity by race, ethnicity, and income that has always existed, but has been particularly highlighted by this recent pandemic. Some of the factors that contribute to higher rates of disease and death from Covid-19 among people of color include the higher percentage of people of color who work in the newly essential jobs, where they are exposed to the virus, and then going back home to their families and further exposing themselves and loved ones. Additionally, people of color tend to have higher numbers of people living in one household, which can lead to higher levels of exposure and transmission. Dr. Claudio points out that instead of waiting until the pandemic is over, the medical community must start now to research and work towards institutional policies that will correct the health disparities
