The Impact of COVID-19 on Minorities
The novel coronavirus pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on minority groups throughout the world. From health disparities to economic hardship, COVID-19 has exacerbated existing social and economic inequalities and placed additional burdens on minority communities. Many of the same factors that have made communities of color more vulnerable to the virus are also making it harder for them to recover from its effects.
The latest data shows that African Americans, Latinos, and Indigenous people are more likely than whites to be diagnosed with COVID-19, be hospitalized due to its complications, and die from it. This racial disparity is largely driven by underlying conditions like diabetes or hypertension, as well as poorer access to quality healthcare, which are both more common in communities of color.
In addition to health disparities, minorities have been hit particularly hard by the economic fallout from the pandemic. While unemployment is up across all racial groups, African Americans have been disproportionately affected due to their higher representation in industries like hospitality and retail that have been most impacted by stay-at-home orders and other restrictions. The gap between white unemployment and black unemployment had widened significantly by October 2020.
The pandemic has also highlighted issues with access to housing for minorities. Because they are more likely than whites to be renters rather than homeowners, they are more vulnerable to eviction during times of economic slowdown or crisis such as this one. Studies show that even during periods when rent prices have stayed relatively stable overall, Black renters were much more likely than whites to be evicted or face other housing insecurity issues before the pandemic began.
COVID-19 has highlighted many of the existing inequities in our society that disproportionately affect minorities—issues that will need to be addressed for us to build a stronger society going forward. It is essential that we work toward solutions that will break down these barriers so that everyone can benefit from our collective progress—not just those who are already privileged in society.