Latinos Are at Higher Risk for COVID-19 Due to Cultural Practices
The Latino population is more at risk of being exposed to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of cultural norms or practices.
"There is a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on the LatinX community," chief of equity and inclusion for the City of Dallas Cedillo-Pereira said in a report.
"Multi-generational households where the 'abuelita,' the grandmother, is living with the family. That's an issue related to density," she added.
Tarrant County is 30 percent Latinos, but 39 percent of COVID-19 cases are Latinos. Meanwhile, Dallas County has around 41 percent of Hispanics with 57 percent of positive COVID-19 cases.
National president of the League of United Latin American Citizens Domingo Garcia said the same situations are observed in the largest counties.
States with High COVID-19 Latino Patients
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that around eight percent of the population in Anne Arundel County in Maryland are Latinos. Thirty-eight percent of coronavirus cases in the area are Hispanics.
In Monterey County in California, patients, who tested positive in the past weeks, were 80 percent Latinos. Monterey County resident Leticia Morfin said many of her relatives, who tested positive for the coronavirus, are employed in the agricultural and construction industries.
"They know going out is a risk, but they have bills to pay and children to take care of," Morfin said in ABCNews report.
Latino in Essential Jobs
Reports noted that Latinos are most likely to work in the food, agriculture, and construction industries. All do not offer worker's health benefits.
"Many of the people who are essential workers are working in those occupations that, in fact, never stopped working, even after many of us were able to quarantine," Cedillo-Pereira told WFAA.
Working Family Solidarity Organizer Leone Jose Bicchieri explained that many Latinos are trying not to be homeless, while struggling to be safe from the coronavirus.
Other Issues
Family physician Dr. Evelyn Figueroa noted that Latino have other health issues that can cause severe cases of coronavirus infection. He said example of this is diabetes.
Figueroa explained that Latinos make about 16 percent of cases of diabetes. This is a higher rate compared to other races in the country.
Figueroa, who also treated COVID-19 patients, opened Pilsen Food Pantry in Chicago two years ago, according to CBSNews.
She cited a 45-percent increase in food pantry demand now. She noted that most of the people lining up for rations are Latino and undocumented immigrants, who are not qualified for assistance.
Bicchieri argued that even undocumented immigrants should also be protected during this health crisis regardless of immigration issues.
"You're not going to make anyone safer by having any portion of the population - let alone anywhere between 6 and 12 million undocumented people - get sick," Bicchieri said.
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