The report examines exposure risks, testing rates, and testing positivity at a subcounty level.
New research published in Health Affairs by Stanford researchers reaffirms earlier studies showing that the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting communities of color in California.
The report, which examined exposure risks, testing rates, and testing positivity at a subcounty level, found that California's Latinos are 8.1 times more likely to live in high-exposure-risk homes than White people (23.6% vs. 2.9%), are overrepresented in cumulative cases (3,784 vs. 1,112 per 100,000 people) and are underrepresented in COVID-19 testing (35,635 vs. 48,930 per 100,000 people).
The disparity is glaring, the report finds, after noting that Latinos represent 39% of the 40 million people living in California. Whites represent 37.5% of the population, Asians 14.4% and Blacks 5.3%. California has recorded 59,258 COVID-19 deaths through April 14βthe most of any state.
"These risks and outcomes were worse for Latino people than for members of other racial/ethnic minority groups," the study found.
The findings are consistent with other studies that examine the effects of the pandemic on communities of color. In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that counties with higher proportions of Latino, Black and Asian populations were hit harder by COVID-19's first and second waves than were counties that were predominantly White.
The Stanford study said demographic analysis of the pandemic at the subcounty level "can inform targeting of interventions and resources, including community-based testing and vaccine access measures."
"Tracking COVID-19 disparities and developing equity-focused public health programming that mitigates the effects of systemic racism can help improve health outcomes among California's populations of color," the study said. cumulative testing (35,635 versus 48,930 per 100,000 people). These risks and outcomes were worse for Latino people than for members of other racial/ethnic minority groups.
John Commins is the news editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
California's Latinos are 8.1 times more likely to live in high-exposure-risk homes than White people, are overrepresented in cumulative cases, and are underrepresented in COVID-19 testing.
The findings are consistent with other studies that examine the effects of the pandemic on communities of color.
In March, the CDC found that counties with higher proportions of Latino, Black and Asian populations were hit harder by COVID-19's first and second waves than were counties that were predominantly White.