Covid 19 disparity among racial and ethnic minorities.

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Introduction

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic took many people and governments by surprise. The contagious nature of the virus prompted many governments to develop and implement strict policies to control its spread and keep people safe. I found my experience during this journey of finding and sharing information regarding the pandemic and its implications on minorities very intriguing and informative. High rates of Covid-19 cases recorded emanated from the minorities (Tirupathi et al., 2020). It enlightened me on the challenges they had to endure because of the pandemic as a marginalized group in America. It is undeniable that they were the most affected people in the state as they were already disadvantaged in their socioeconomic status. Most countries restricted movements, locally and internationally. The American government encouraged people to keep safe by adhering to strict rules, like minimal physical contact, handwashing, and facemasks. Many citizens lost their jobs due to these restrictions by the government.

Most minority groups in America live in densely populated areas. This aspect of their lives barred them from adhering to the government’s strict measures put in place. Maintaining social distance in areas where the population is too high to control is challenging. This factor explains why the minorities were the most affected by the pandemic. The large populations in their communities barred them from maintaining a far enough distance during public interactions (Tirupathi et al., 2020). As a member of the minority group in America, I can attest to the congestions and the poor living standards in my neighborhood. It was difficult for the healthcare department to implement safety measures during the pandemic because of the state of the community

Another critical factor that facilitated the fast spread of the virus in Hispanic and black American communities is the inadequate healthcare facilities and grocery stores in these neighborhoods. Cases of the pandemic reported overwhelmed the healthcare facilities because they were disproportionate to practitioners and facilities in place. Consequently, citizens could not access proper treatment on time, leading to the deaths of some victims (Tirupathi et al., 2020). The lack of well-stocked grocery stores also contributed to the high rate of infections in these communities. Individuals were forced to visit the store often to stock up hence interacting more instead of staying home, an appropriate measure to control the Covid-19 spread. I remember my brother falling amidst the pandemic and seriously fracturing his leg in the garden. We tried to seek medical assistance from the nearest medical facility, and it proved very difficult because of congestion and inadequate doctors to meet patients’ needs.

Conclusion

The government needs to establish healthcare policies that consider the minorities in America and their challenges because of segregation. An inclusion culture should be normalized in the healthcare sector to ensure racial equity and fairness in service delivery. More healthcare facilities that are fully equipped should be erected in the minority’s communities to counter congestion in hospitals. The government can also look for qualified doctors from the respective communities to serve the people to make the patient-doctor ratio proportionate. In addition, this action will create job opportunities for individuals in the minority community, thus increasing their chances of improving the community’s standards. Finally, the government needs to develop effective housing strategies to settle the large populations in these regions.

Reference

Tirupathi, R., Muradova, V., Shekhar, R., Salim, S. A., Al-Tawfiq, J. A., & Palabindala, V. (2020). COVID-19 disparity among racial and ethnic minorities in the US: a cross-sectional analysis. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 38, 101904.