An indigenous woman cycles nears Cohana Bay on the shores of Titicaca lake, some 110 km (68 miles) northwest of La Paz
REUTERS/David Mercado

COVID-19 has hit minorities harder. Indeed, the disproportionate effect of this pandemic on Latino and black communities has turned out to be a defining part of this global health crisis.

An article posted by Axios describes the big picture referring to the virus as an outcome of innumerable longstanding inequalities within the American economy and the health care system.

Christina Henderson, for instance, who puts on a pair of gloves and a mask every day to serve hundreds of people meals in her predominantly black D.C. community, said, the statistics flashing on her television about racial inequalities in COVID-19 cases are disturbing, though not surprising.

Ms. Tina, as to how she's called by volunteers and neighbors in her community who sees her everyday call Henderson, is D.C. Dream Center's program director.

D.C. Dream Center is a nonprofit organization serving predominantly black communities of Southeast Washington, D.C.

75 Percent of Deaths from COVID-19 in D.C. were Black

76-year-old, Ms. Tina said it's hard "to hear people and their fear." At her age, she shared she has dealt with this all her life. She added, she's not surprised that black and Latino communities are treated that way.

According to reports, 75 percent of those who have died from COVID-19 in D.C. were black. These deaths are said to be disproportionately focused on the blackest and most deprived communities of the district in southeast D.C.

In New York City, there is a mortality rate of 92.3 deaths for black residents for every 100,000 people. The death rate for Latinos is 74.3, also per 100,000 people. For whites, on the other hand, the rate is 45.2 for every 100,000 people.

These differences reportedly mirror a slew of other, older gaps. Behind the upsetting tones of a lot of headlines today, is a series of social and policy issues which health experts find familiar. They are even quite more familiar to those they have greatly affected.

Medical Conditions and Social Factors

Minorities have higher rates when it comes to medical or health conditions, making them more susceptible to severe contagion and death if they catch COVID-19. Among these conditions are cancer, asthma, heart disease, influenza, stroke, diabetes, AIDS and pneumonia.

When going to the emergency room, Ms. Tina said, black Americans are not getting the same health care services as whites are receiving.

When it comes to social aspects which include social backings and job, adequate housing and access to transportation have been presented to impact individuals' physical health.

Differences in each of the said categories were already adding to the widespread health inequities even prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. They have also now turned out to be risk factors for the fatal illness.

In 2018, Pew Research Center showed that about 26 percent of black households, 27 percent of Latinos and 16 percent of whites resided in different generational families.

With the figures, according to Ms. Tina, "I realize, it is because of the types of jobs they do," and how they live since many of them live in very close quarters.

Testing was slow to rise, as well, in poor communities. And when the people from these groups went into health care facilities and hospitals, Ms. Tina said, "They were not treated with respect." She added, people from poor communities were not tested with the virus and sent back home.

As a result, the racial inequalities of this health crisis cannot be separated from racial discrimination that Latino and black Americans are experiencing in their everyday lives.

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