by J. Edward Moreno
© Greg Nash
Illinois Democratic lawmakers, led by Sen. Dick Durbin, are calling on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to address racial disparities in those affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
In Illinois — one of the first states to report a racial breakdown of its coronavirus cases — African Americans make up 42.8 percent of recorded coronavirus deaths despite making up 14 percent of the population. In Chicago, black people account for 64.6 percent of deaths, despite making up only about 30 percent of the population.
The lawmakers noted in a letter addressed to HHS Secretary Alex Azar that the first coronavirus death in their state was a black woman: Patricia Frieson, a 61-year-old retired nurse from the Chicago area who died in March. Her sister, Wanda Bailey, 63, died from the virus shortly after Frieson, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“We are deeply concerned about the racial disparities that exist in Illinois, and nationwide, with respect to COVID-19 fatalities,” the lawmakers wrote. “We need to ensure that our state and local hospitals and health departments are reporting important demographic data to the CDC regarding COVID-19 cases and deaths, and that the CDC is publishing this information publicly. These vital statistics can then help the federal government, as well as state and local governments and public health departments, to develop plans to protect our most vulnerable populations.”
At least a dozen other states and the District of Columbia have begun reporting such data, which has revealed similar trends. In Louisiana, for example, black people account for nearly 60 percent of coronavirus deaths despite making up about 32 percent of the population. Lawmakers have called on more states to collect such data, though some, such as New York, have said private labs that don't report that information pose an obstacle.
Public health officials like Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, and Surgeon General Jerome Adams have noted that pre-existing health inequities make black and Latino Americans more vulnerable to the respiratory virus.
“Current racial disparities in COVID-19 data are reflective of deeply entrenched patterns of historical inequalities in health outcomes,” the lawmakers wrote. “Providing health care providers and the general public with racial and demographic data is essential in assessing the scope of the virus in the black population and other minority communities, and to informing public health departments on how best to respond to the unique challenges facing communities of color.”
The lawmakers noted that “while many Americans are currently teleworking, white workers are approximately 50 percent more likely to be able to work from home than their black counterparts.” Public health advocates and physicians have noted anecdotally that low-wage service industry workers and those who make up critical infrastructure tend to be of minority communities.
Black and Latino Americans are statistically less likely to have health insurance coverage. Some public health advocates, such as Taison Bell, a professor of medicine at the University of Virginia Medical School, said that in places where coronavirus testing is scarce for minority communities there’s been a spike in related ailments like respiratory distress and respiratory failure.
The lawmakers also joined the call to reopen enrollment for the Affordable Care Act (ACA) nationally during the pandemic so those who lost employee health benefits due to layoffs could remain covered. The Trump administration, which is currently leading litigation to abolish the ACA, has refused to support such a plan.
“To add to the growing racial concerns, black Americans are already less likely to have health insurance in this country,” the lawmakers wrote. “At a time when health insurance is more important than ever, we must take action to ensure the health and safety of these communities. This could include opening up a nationwide special enrollment period for ACA plans, as many states have already done.”
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