COVID-19 and Black America: Overview
Seeking COVID-19 Treatment as a Black American Infographic
COVID-19 has been disproportionately impacting racial minority groups, making them more at risk of severe infection or death from the virus. Specifically, Black Americans are almost 3 times as likely to die from COVID-19 and 4 times as likely to be hospitalized when compared to White people.
And as we all know, exposure to certain COVID-19 risks are at a greater rate than White people. Some of these risk factors include crowded housing situations and essential jobs which automatically expose you to more people, chronic health conditions, as well as chronic stress.
What Black Americans should expect
Racial and ethnic minorities are 1.5 to 2 times more likely than Whites to have major chronic diseases such as hypertension, asthma, and obesity. Due to this disparity, it is more likely that Black Americans will have poorer COVID-19 outcomes due to previously weakened immune systems. Some long term effects of a more severe COVID-19 case includes:
- Fatigue
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disorders
- Fevers
- Anxiety
- Depression
Black Americans having to go to the doctor due to COVID are also receiving the least follow-up care after their COVID-19 diagnosis and reporting the longest delay times in returning to work,. One study revealed that Black patients were 6 times less likely to get COVID-19 treatment or testing during hospital visits.
Make sure that you seek medical care immediately if your condition is worsening!
Resources:
Seeking Care/Questions to Ask when you have COVID
Sources used: Health Equity Considerations and Racial and Ethnic Minority Groups | CDC
COVID-19 Cases and Deaths by Race/Ethnicity: Current Data and Changes Over Time | KFF
Coronavirus in African Americans and Other People of Color | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Covid-19 pandemic isn’t over for Black Americans, report warns – STAT
Racism, Inequality, and Health Care for African Americans
Questions of Bias in Covid-19 Treatment Add to the Mourning for Black Families – The New York Times
Which Symptoms Point to Severe COVID-19? Doctors Issue New Update
