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Disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on immigrant communities in the United States

Author/s
Clark E.,
Fredricksid K.,
Woc-Colburn L.,
Bottazzi M.E.,
Weatherheadid J.
Year
Language
English
Document Type
Article
Source Title
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Publisher
Public Library of Science

Description

In early 2020, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) began to trickle through global communi-ties, resulting in a pandemic of proportions not seen since 1918. In the US, while the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, initially affected international travelers and their close contacts, it is now ravaging many disadvantaged communities. As in past pandemics, social and economic determinants will strongly influence susceptibility to and health outcomes of COVID-19; thus, it is predictable that low-income and vulnerable US populations will be dis-proportionately affected. Certain “hot spots” have already demonstrated high rates of COVID-19–related mortality in minority populations, particularly those of impoverished communities, likely due to increased prevalence of comorbid conditions as a result of unequal socioeconomic factors and inadequate access to timely healthcare [1–5]. We can anticipate similar outcomes in other vulnerable populations, particularly in immigrant communities, which have similar socioeconomic status and rates of comorbidities. With over 46.7 million immigrants currently living in the US, of which 11 million are undocumented [6], a socioeconomic perspective of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic within the US immigrant community is neces-sary. Here, we will focus on the potential impact of COVID-19 on immigrant communities in the US, particularly those in Texas. © 2020 Clark et al.

Region/Country (by coverage)
Index Keywords

Betacoronavirus; catering service; Coronavirus infection; economics; female; health care delivery; health care disparity; health care policy; housing; human; influenza; Influenza A virus (H1N1); male; migrant; pandemic; poverty; risk factor; socioeconomics; unemployment; United States; virus pneumonia; vulnerable population; Betacoronavirus; Coronavirus Infections; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; Food Supply; Health Policy; Health Services Accessibility; Healthcare Disparities; Housing; Humans; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; Influenza, Human; Male; Pandemics; Pneumonia, Viral; Poverty; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Unemployment; United States; Vulnerable Populations