Racial Discrimination and Income Inequality Worsen COVID-19 Outcomes

February 23, 2022

Evidence mounting since the beginning of the pandemic indicates that low-income patients and people from marginalized backgrounds suffer worse COVID-19 outcomes. A review published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas breaks down the social determinates surrounding the disease, noting that factors like housing, healthcare access, and high-risk jobs worsen outcomes.

According to Deep Shukla of Medical News Today, “Individuals earning less than twice the federal poverty levels constitute nearly 25% of essential workers. Similarly, individuals belonging to historically marginalized groups often make up a substantial share of workers in essential occupations. For example, 3 in 4 frontline workers in New York City belong to these groups. The contagiousness of SARS-CoV-2 and the inability to work remotely meant that essential workers were at increased risk of contracting COVID-19.”