Hispanics and Blacks Are Hardest Hit by COVID-19 in New York City
Hispanics and Blacks Are Hardest Hit by COVID-19 in New York City
Hispanics have made up one-third of coronavirus deaths in the city, according to initial data.
By Alexa Lardieri, Staff Writer April 8, 2020, at 12:56 p.m.
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Hispanics, Blacks Hit Hardest by Virus in New York City
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A health worker carries a dead body of a COVID-19 victim to container morgues in Brooklyn, New York.
(TAYFUN COSKUN/ANADOLU AGENCY VIA GETTY IMAGES)
NEW YORK CITY'S Hispanic population has been most impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, followed by African Americans, according to initial data from the state's Department of Health.
Hispanic account for 29% of the population and 34% of the city's deaths. African Americans, while making up 22% of the city's population, constitute 28% of deaths.
Whites and Asians appear to be less hard hit proportionally. While the white population makes up 32% of the population across the five boroughs, it constitutes 27% of deaths. Asians make up 14% of the population but only 7% of deaths.
There are more than 76,870 cases of the coronavirus in the city and more than 4,000 people have died, according to John Hopkins University. There are more than 140,380 cases in New York state, where nearly 5,500 people have died.
In a glimmer of good news, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference Wednesday that the city needs fewer ventialtors than originally estimated, but stressed that the fight against COVID-19 is not over.
Coronavirus in NYC Causes Uncertainty
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The mayor said there has been a reduction in the number of new ventilators – life-saving machines for the most critical patients – needed each day across the five boroughs. One hundred or fewer new machines are needed each day this week, a decline from the 200 to 300 that were needed each day last week.
De Blasio said there are 5,500 ventilators available throughout the city's hospitals and that a small emergency reserve of 135 ventilators could be accessed "in case something has to be quickly moved to a place where the need is greatest."
The mayor also said additional help is needed "quickly" even as almost 300 military medical personnel have been deployed throughout the city's public hospitals.
"[I'm] very grateful that our armed forces have come forward to help our public hospitals," de Blasio said, "but we will need more help and we need it quickly."
New York state reported similar patterns in terms of death rates by racial group. Excluding New York City, whites make up 62% of deaths in the state while consisting of 75% of the state's population.
African Americans account for about 18% of virus deaths, despite comprising just 9% of the population.
While Hispanics make up about 11% of the state's population, excluding New York City, they make up 14% of people who died from COVID-19, according to the state's data. Asians, who make up 4% of the population, account for 4% of deaths.
Alexa Lardieri, Staff Writer
Alexa Lardieri is a reporter and digital producer for the Civic section of U.S. News & World ... READ MORE
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