{"id":5084224,"date":"2020-04-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-29T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctlatinonews.com\/covid-19-in-context-why-we-need-to-understand-the-roots-of-health-disparities\/"},"modified":"2020-04-29T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-29T04:00:00","slug":"covid-19-in-context-why-we-need-to-understand-the-roots-of-health-disparities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/latinonewsnetwork.com\/ctln\/2020\/04\/29\/covid-19-in-context-why-we-need-to-understand-the-roots-of-health-disparities\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 in context: Why we need to understand the roots of health disparities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Arielle Levin Becker<\/a><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n

Data shows that the new coronavirus is disproportionately<\/a> striking black and Hispanic residents and killing black residents at a significantly higher rate than others. This is a tragic reflection of a longstanding reality in our state and country \u2013 widespread racial and ethnic health disparities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

Even before this pandemic, people of color in Connecticut were more likely to live in poor health than their white counterparts and, for black residents, to die younger<\/a>. These differences are not accidental, nor are they the result of biological differences between people of different races. Instead, they reflect differences in the opportunities and barriers to being healthy \u2013 differences that are rooted in structural racism and bias.<\/p>\n\n\n

There has been much reporting on the reasons people of color have been especially vulnerable to COVID-19. These include higher rates of underlying conditions, including asthma and diabetes, as well as economic factors, such as being less likely to have jobs that allow for working from home, potentially increasing their exposure to the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n

As this disease unfolds, it is important to recognize the roots of these disparities. These include differences in access to health care, unequal treatment within the health care system, unequal access to resources such as stable housing and healthy food, and personal experiences of discrimination and racism that have lasting physical and mental health consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n

Some key facts: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n