By Dalianny Corporan
People of color are struggling more with this pandemic, and it is affecting the mental health of many.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), minorities are more likely to contract and die from Covid-19. Native non-Hispanic people, Black-Americans, and Latinos are more than four times likely to be hospitalized for Covid-19. For more racial statistics by the CDC click here.
The spread of Covid-19 increases from being in crowded places, having close/physical contact with people, and having a long duration of exposure. To reduce the risk, one has to wear a mask, maintain a social distance of six feet, wash hands frequently, and disinfect one’s surroundings.
According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), in many Black and Indigenous neighborhoods, there is less access to testing. Then when there is testing, it takes weeks for it to get processed. “They face higher rates of diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that worsen the COVID-19 prognosis,” according to Kelly Servick from AAAS. For more information, click here.
Also according to CNN Health, this is difficult for the Hispanic population that works in field labor and have to go to work not knowing they could infect others, but they cannot take the day off to make their living wage to support themselves. For more information click here.
It is harder for Hispanic field workers to wait for Covid-19 testing because of the long waiting process. (Photo by: Joe Raedle)
There has also been racial discrimination and xenophobia against East Asians because of coronavirus including reports of assaults, verbal harassment, bullying, and discrimination against people of Asian descent in the US, UK, Australia, Spain, France, Russia, and Italy. Also, there have been reports of harassment and shunning in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Brazil. .
Many politicians have also perpetuated the xenophobia against East Asians. President Trump has referred to the virus as the “Chinese virus. “ To see more information on Asian xenophobia click here.
Asians all around the world have been experiencing discrimination because of the Coronavirus. (Photo by: Steven Senne)
The virus has also brought hard times for people in general. People cannot go to work to stay safe, businesses have shut down, and people have struggled mentally.
In mid-July, 53 percent of adults in the United States reported that their mental health has been negatively impacted due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. Many adults are also reported at 36 percent difficulty sleeping and 32 percent report difficulty eating. There also has been a 12 percent increase of alcohol consumption or substance use and worsening chronic conditions due stress about coronavirus. For more KFF information click here.
According to Dr. Fauci, the virus is not ending until after 2021, so America has a long time to get better.
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