(Photo : Reuters Connect)

The Latino community in the state of Nevada is disproportionately affected by COVID-19. The Nevada assemblyman is doing his best to secure aid for the Latino community, according to a report.

Latinos are the Most Affected in Nevada

The Latino community is the most affected minority group in the state of Nevada. This is partly because of the nature of their jobs where most of them are in the essential industries like construction, food production, agriculture, and more. 

In Washoe County, there are 1,719 cases as of Saturday and 42 percent of this or about 730 is comprised by Latinos. This is the highest infection rate in the county from a minority group. According to the Census Bureau, Latinos are about 25 percent of the county's total population.

The same as well in Clark County. Officials reported on Saturday that 34 percent of the COVID-19 patients in Southern Nevada are coming from the minority group. Latinos are about 31 percent of the county's total population. 

Nevada Assemblyman To Secure Aid for the Latino Community

The figure is very clear that in the two counties alone, the Latino community is heavily impacted by COVID-19. It is the reason why Democratic Assemblyman Edgar Flores, a member of The Nevada Hispanic Legislative Caucus, is working to stretch the resources and help the Latino community living across the state. 

The Latino COVID-19 task force listed recommendations to state Gov. Steve Sisolak on how to help and support the Latino community amid the global pandemic. The recommendations also included the undocumented Latinos. 

Specifically, the task force wants to ensure that every Latino regardless of his or her status should have an access to healthcare, message and information about the unemployment, food banks, health insurance exchange, and how to receive health care that is translated in Spanish for better understanding.

Progress of the Task Force, Local Government, and Non-profit Organization

Hispanic Legislative Caucus' task force itself, local governments, or nonprofit organizations have made efforts in achieving some of these. The task force, for example, has successfully donated food from 60 to 80 families weekly in cooperation with La Bonita Supermarkets. 

They also made some efforts in giving information about the pandemic using the Spanish language. The Hispanic Legislative Caucus has created a bilingual information website called Ayuda Nevada while the Reno City Council has established online support with information using the Spanish language.

Edgar Flores told a news outlet: "It is a very concerted effort between a coalition of folks to start spreading the message that it's our families that are getting real sick out there - our immigrant Latino families." 

He added: "So what we've done is we've started a very specific campaign here solely at our Northern Nevada family and explaining the resources that we have in Elko and Washoe all the other jurisdictions as opposed to just focusing heavily on Clark County."  

Moreover, other recommendations of the task force include food donations and supplies to rural communities, COVID-19 testing kit, and personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, employment, rehabilitation, and more. 

Read a related article: