Coronavirus poses special challenges for Black Americans

Disease highlights inequities in society, economy

By Myron Bennett

Special to The Real Deal Press

This past Tuesday State Senator Sandra Williams [D-21, Cleveland] hosted a 30-minute virtual town hall meeting to provide critical information and respond to questions about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the black community. Dr. Charles Modlin,  a kidney transplant surgeon, urologist at the Cleveland Clinic, where he is also founder and director of the Minority Men's Health Center, served as Senator Williams’ health expert co-host.

Modlin provided information concerning who is most at risk for contracting coronavirus, how to reduce risk, coronavirus testing availability, and general health recommendations. He emphasized the need to follow public health practices including regular hand-washing and social distancing. He noted that testing, while available, requires a doctor’s order in Ohio. (Though he mentioned only the Cleveland Clinic system as a testing site, both University Hospitals and The MetroHealth System also provide testing in Cuyahoga County.)     

Dr. Charles Modlin (Feb. 2020]

Both Williams and Modlin said that this pandemic is of special concern for the Black community. because data is showing that in many urban areas Black Americans are contracting and dying from the virus at disproportionately higher rates than others.

In Milwaukee County Wisconsin, which is one of the few places in the country tracking infection and death by race, by last Friday African Americans made up almost half of the County’s 945 cases and 81% of its 27 deaths.  The county's population is only 26% black.

By the end of last week in Michigan, African Americans made up 35% of cases and 40% of deaths resulting from coronavirus infection. The state’s population is 14% black. Detroit has emerged as an epicenter of infection and death.

Though New Orleans Louisiana does not report  cases by race, 40% of the state’s deaths have happened in majority black Orleans Parish. Illinois and North Carolina, which report infection and death by race, each report a  disproportionate number of African Americans afflicted by COVID-19. These results illuminate the disproportionate destruction the coronavirus is inflicting on black communities across the United States.

One reason for such high rates is that many black people do not have a primary care physician who can write an order for the coronavirus test when patients note symptoms. Other reasons for high rates include that black urban neighborhoods and homes are densely populated, making social distancing difficult; and many African Americans work in low paying service industry jobs that are deemed essential, and accordingly are putting their health at risk for community  service and/or economic reasons.                                  

This crisis magnifies and illuminates the systemic inequities and structural racism that Black communities constantly face. While Black Americans are contracting and dying from the coronavirus at disproportionately higher rates than any other group and are also being disproportionately impacted economically and educationally. 

Racism continues to be America’s greatest sin, even during a time of worldwide crisis. Our country’s historic implementation of policies that exacerbate racial inequity in healthcare access has resulted in poorer health status and health outcomes for Black Americans. Epidemic levels of chronic disease [hypertension, diabetes, asthma, heart disease] put black people at risk for contracting coronavirus and having disastrous outcomes. Whenever America is faced with disaster, Black communities suffer the most.

The current crisis demands black leadership equivalent to the moment. Political, medical, spiritual, social service, educational and business leaders must heed the call to serve, protect and save our community from this crisis. The souls and futures of black people in America depend on it.

_____

As a reminder, each of us as individuals and community members must regularly:   

• Wash our hands frequently and thoroughly (20 seconds, minimum)

• Adopt alternatives to the handshake

• Avoid contact with sick people

• Avoid touching our own eyes/nose/mouth

• Stay home if you or someone in your home is feeling sick

• Avoid listening to and spreading myths and conspiracy theories

Myron Bennett is a former health commissioner for the City of Cleveland. Currently he works as an independent public policy consultant and focuses largely on issues related to public health and community  and economic development.

# # ## # #

RELATED:

'Woe is You,' White People Keep Telling Us. This virus is poised to rip through black neighborhoods like mine. OPINION PIECE.

4 Reasons Coronavirus is hitting black communities so hard.

Africa could see 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 this year even in the best-case scenario, according to a new report this week from the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa, writes the Associated Press. In the worst-case scenario, over 3 million people could die on the continent.