COVID-19 Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities (cdc.gov)

1. Introduction
2. Risk of Exposure to COVID-19
3. Risk of Severe Illness or Death from COVID-19
4. Disparities in COVID-19 Illness
5. Disparities in COVID-19-Associated Hospitalizations
6. Disparities in COVID-19 Deaths
7. Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies
8. What We Can Do to Move Towards Health Equity
   Click each link above to learn about underlying health and social inequities that put many racial and ethnic minority groups at increased risk of getting sick, having more severe illness, and dying from COVID-19. Racial and ethnic minority groups are also unequally affected by unintended economic, social, and secondary health consequences of COVID-19 mitigation strategies such as social distancing.

“Health equity” means that everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Equitable opportunity includes equal access to and distribution of resources. When policies, programs, and systems that support health are equitable, poor health outcomes can be reduced, health disparities can be prevented, and the whole of society benefits.

Some racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Conditions in the places where people live, learn, work, play, and worship affect a wide range of health risks and outcomes, such as COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death. These conditions are known as social determinants of health. Long-standing inequities in social determinants of health that affect these groups, such as poverty and healthcare access, are interrelated and influence a wide range of health and quality-of-life risks and outcomes.

Social determinants of health

The five key topic areas of social determinants of health listed below contribute to racial and ethnic minority groups being disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Discrimination, which includes racism and associated chronic stress, influences each of these key topic areas.

• Neighborhood and Physical Environment
• Health and Healthcare
• Occupation and Job Conditions
• Income and Wealth
• Education
  People from racial and ethnic minority groups are disproportionately affected by inequities in access to high-quality education which can lead to lower literacy and numeracy levels, lower high school completion rates, and barriers to college entrance. In addition to educational barriers, limited access to quality job training or programs tailored to the language needs of some racial and ethnic minority groups may limit future job options and lead to lower paying or less stable jobs.

To read more on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, please click here.