Racial and poverty problems behind coronavirus deaths in L.A. County

On May 28, an article in Los Angeles Times revealed problems behind the notable difference between the coronavirus death rates of whites and minorities in L.A. County. While the pandemic is raging in areas with high rate of poverty where Latinos and blacks concentrate, whites are considerably safer in areas with much lower rate of poverty.

The report made last week by county officials revealed that the coronavirus death rate among minorities is “substantially higher than that of whites”. Alarming racial and poverty problems facing blacks and Latinos appear to be driving factors behind it.

Deaths by racial and ethnic group

Below are figures of people who died from COVID-19 identified by race and ethnicity, statistics are originally from Los Angeles County officials’ report last week, sorted out by Los Angeles Times:

- White: 13 deaths per 100,000 white residents

- Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 53 to 154 deaths per 100,000 Native

- Black: 26 deaths per 100,000 black residents

- Latino: 22 deaths per 100,000 Latino residents

- Asian American: 16 deaths per 100,000 Asian American residents

Whites are clearly recognized as less likely to die from the virus, while native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents suffered a fatality rate four to 12 times higher than for white people, black residents double likely, and Latino residents’ similar with blacks’.

Latinos & blacks especially at risk

Below are one-day data of the percentages of L.A. County residents who died from COVID-19 by race and ethnicity, and the percentages of L.A. County residents by race and ethnicity for comparison, sorted from Los Angeles Times.

From above we can tell that Latinos, as the largest ethnic group in California, suffered the greatest loss of lives in this pandemic. Another report posted by Los Angeles Times earlier, on Apr 25, showed that Latino Californians are “generally younger than other demographics”, while the sad news is that “most new infections are occurring among adults 65 or younger”. Black and Latino Californians, between the ages of 18 and 64, “are dying most frequently of COVID-19 than their white counterparts relative to their share of the population”.

Deaths in poverty-stricken areas

Below are figures of people who died from COVID-19 by the poverty rate of the area they resided in, statistics originally from Los Angeles County officials’ report last week, sorted out by Los Angeles Times:

- Residents in areas with high rates of poverty: 41 deaths per 100,000 residents

- Residents in areas with very low rates of poverty: 11 deaths per 100,000 residents

“Those living in areas with higher rates of poverty suffered a coronavirus death rate nearly quadruple that of those living in areas with very low poverty levels,” Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County’s director of public health, said last week.

Poverty is therefore associated with noticeably high fatality rate of coronavirus. The inequities exposed are recognized to be “deeply disturbing”, calling out for more attention and collaboration from all sides of L.A. society.

Find more information about the article at https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-05-29/whites-far-less-likely-to-die-from-the-coronavirus-than-non-whites-in-l-a-county