The CDC has released new data that is showing the virus is hitting the black communities incredibly hard.
The White House task force is trying to get ahead of the debate around the information, especially as to how it represents the significant issues that are present within those communities already.
According to the numbers released by the CDC, the racial breakdown from the population in the report was 59% white, 14% Latino and 18% black, 45% of hospitalized patients were white and 8% were Latino, while 33% were black, showing that the black community is being hit with the virus a disproportionate amount.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who is the nation’s top expert on infectious diseases, described how the virus’ effect on the community is an ““exacerbation of a health disparity.” He also explained how conditions that have always been affecting the community are causing a much worse reaction to the virus.
“So we are very concerned about that. It is very sad. It’s nothing we can do about it right now, except to try and give them the best possible care to avoid those complications.”
He went on to mention how these kinds of events can show us the true issues that are present in our society. He also reinforced how we need to tackle these issues when the pandemic is over.
It is important to note that the sample size is rather small, and so further numbers are needed to really make it certain that these communities are being afflicted. However, the numbers we do have do show a pattern that makes it likely there is a disparity.
It is during times like this that we can feel like a mirror has been put in front of us. Our cracks in our society are even more apparent when faced with a crisis, and when all is said and done, we need to remember that the work isn’t over.
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