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the grim impact of covid-19 on black canadians
black canadians are nearly three times more likely to know someone who has died of covid-19
sep 8 2020
2 minute read
a new study looked into how the coronavirus pandemic affected canada's black population specifically.
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rates of covid-19 among people of colour in toronto have already made it abundantly clear that we are not “all” in this pandemic together.
as of mid-august, 83 per cent of reported cases have been identified with racialized groups — 22 per cent from the black community, which accounts for only nine per cent of the city’s population.
now, a new study shows the grim impact of covid-19 on black people across the country.
in a survey of 2,300 adults, participants who identified as black reported both poorer health outcomes and more financial distress than other respondents.
although black canadians experienced only slightly higher rates of covid symptoms (10 per cent, versus an average of seven per cent), they were three times more likely to report knowing someone who had died from the virus.
a higher proportion of black canadians (56 per cent) also reported being laid off or having their work hours cut or reduced due to the pandemic than the survey average (43 per cent). and 45 per cent of black canadians voiced concern about paying rent, compared to an average of 36 per cent.
dunia nur is the president of the african canadian civic engagement council (accec), an advocacy group based in edmonton which conducted the survey in partnership with toronto research firm innovative.
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she’s not surprised by the findings. “anecdotally, we’ve always had these stories,” she says.
“from a mental health perspective, from a financial perspective, from a medical care perspective, from a community support perspective, black canadians are largely disadvantaged.”
simply going to work puts black people at heightened risk of exposure to covid-19. black respondents to the accec/innovate survey were twice as likely to report employment that requires face-to-face interaction.
one in four black respondents also reported that their commute felt unsafe. researchers say this could be because black canadians are twice as likely as the general population to use public transit.
overall, accec/innovate reports that “black canadians are more likely to feel that no matter what steps they take, their day-to-day routine puts them at an uncomfortably high risk of catching the virus.”
health conditions more common among black people may also put those who do contract covid-19 at greater risk of severe illness and death.
the centers for disease control and prevention lists sickle cell disease , an inherited blood disorder, on its list of underlying risks associated with the virus. researchers are looking at whether sickle cell trait , which affects millions more black people, poses vulnerability as well.
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systemic racism is itself a risk factor for poor health outcomes, linked to stress caused by discrimination, greater likelihood of poverty, and inequitable access to health care and social services. this summer, the toronto board of health specifically declared anti-black racism a public health crisis .
but essential to addressing that crisis is better data, from across the country.
“we’re just scratching the surface,” says nur of accec/innovate’s recent survey.
she hopes further research on covid-19 will push government leaders to protect those who are most vulnerable “at multiple different levels.”
“these are people’s realities, and you need to pay attention,” she says.
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