The COVID-19 outbreak will likely disproportionately affect communities of color in both their health and their pocketbooks, compounding longstanding racial disparities in health and economic conditions, according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) analysis.
While comprehensive data about how the COVID-19 crisis is unfolding are not yet available, early data from some areas suggest communities of color are experiencing disproportionate health and economic impacts. As of April 6, to cite a few examples:
In Illinois, communities of color accounted for 48% of confirmed cases and 56% of deaths, while only making up 39% of the state’s population.
In Louisiana, blacks are 32% of the state’s population, but accounted for over 70% of COVID-19 deaths.
In Michigan, although blacks make up 14% of the population, they accounted for 33% of confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41% of deaths.
In North Carolina, blacks are 21% of the population, but accounted for 37% of confirmed COVID-19 cases
In Washington D.C., blacks accounted for 59% of COVID-19 deaths, while making up 45% of the district’s population
The new numbers stand alongside existing data that suggest that many people of color are at increased risk for experiencing serious illness if they contract COVID-19 due to higher rates of certain underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and asthma compared to whites. Nonelderly black, Hispanic, and American Indian and Alaska Native adults are more likely than whites are to report fair or poor health, according to KFF analysis of federal survey data.
People of color also are more likely to be uninsured, which could translate into increased challenges accessing COVID-19 testing and treatment services. Among the nonelderly, 22% of American Indians and Alaska Natives lacked health coverage in 2018, as did 19% of Hispanics and 11% of blacks, compared to 8% of whites.
Moreover, people of color are more likely to work in certain industries (such as restaurant, hospitality, retail and other service industries) that are particularly at risk for loss of income right now, but have limited ability to absorb these decreases due to lower incomes. Over a quarter of blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians and Alaska Natives are low-wage workers, compared to less than 17% of whites.
For the full analysis, as well as other data and analyses about the coronavirus and COVID-19, visit kff.org.