A review of official data has shown that the COVID-19 is even more deadly for Hispanic and Black Americans than previously indicated.

Based on the initial data on COVID-19 deaths, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that Hispanic and Black Americans were said to have a death rate of 2.1 times higher than that of White Americans.

An Independent report said the CDC adjusted the findings after considering the age. The agency then found that Hispanic and Black Americans actually died at a rate of 2.8 times higher than white Americans.

There was no clear timeline as to when the CDC published these data on its website. 

Data Revisions

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren had urged the CDC to review the disparities in COVID-19 deaths."

Comparing COVID-19 infection rates by race without also taking age into consideration is like comparing apples and oranges," Warren said in the Independent report. 

The U.S. Census Bureau and Pew Research showed that the median age for Hispanic Americans is 11, 27 for Black Americans, and 58 for White Americans. 

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Warren on Wednesday warned that young people of color might be a lot more likely to be dying from the disease. She said that the CDC got their request and adjusted its official COVID-10 race or ethnicity mortality rates for age.

"The data show that Black, Latino, and Native Americans are dying of COVID-19 at a much higher rate than white Americans than they previously indicated," the Senator noted in the report.

Warren added that this is a significant update that would help people better understand the true effect of the pandemic on communities across the country.

She explained that in this way, officials could also start addressing inequity that exists in the current health care system.

Meanwhile, new data on American Indians or Alaska Natives showed that their COVID-19 mortality rate is 2.6 times higher compared to White Americans.

CDC previously placed the mortality rate at 1.4 times higher than White Americans, as reported by a CNBC report. 

Warren said that by not adjusting the age factor, CDC did not tell the full story. She added that the average age among people of color communities is much younger than that of non-Hispanic white Americans.

Warren wrote to CDC Director Robert Redfield, saying that the agency has not consistently laid out the risks and has not provided complete information.

Former Baltimore health commissioner Dr. Leana Wen lauded Warren and other advocates who urged the CDC to review the data. Wen also acknowledged CDC's effort to revise the analysis. 

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Wen said there are underlying factors in society that are triggering the disproportionate effect on people of color.

She said that people of color are more likely to have jobs classified as essential workers that increases their risk of exposure to the virus.

Wen also explained that people of color are more likely to live in multi-generational households that could quickly spread the virus to younger and older people.