The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is committing to improving COVID-19 outcomes in disproportionally affected populations.
The agency released a strategy document Friday outlining its approach, which is aimed at understanding and reducing the inequalities in how the pandemic is affecting minority communities.
Specifically, the CDC said it will be ramping up data collection, as well as testing, contact tracing, and safely quarantining, isolating and treating minorities at risk. The agency also said it will take steps to diversify the public health workforce responding to the current crisis.
“Persistent health disparities combined with historic housing patterns, work circumstances, and other factors have put members of some racial and ethnic minority populations at higher risk for COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death,” the CDC wrote in its five-page document. “As we continue to learn more about the impact of COVID-19 on the health of different populations, immediate action is critical to reduce growing COVID-19 disparities among the populations known to be at disproportionate risk.”
According to reporting from the Associated Press, American Indians and Native Alaskans are hospitalized at more than five times the rate of white individuals. And that figure is only slightly lower for Black and Hispanic Americans, who’s rate is four times higher than their white counterparts.
Published July 24th, the document asserts that COVID-19 has “exposed” long-standing inequities that have “undermined” the health of racial and ethnic minority populations, who are now suffering the brunt of the disease.
The CDC’s approach is focused on near-term, three to 12 month outcomes.
Read the entire document here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.