Hispanic community accounts for more than half of Southwest Michigan County coronavirus cases

Bamblen County, Michigan-Hispanic and Latino communities make up the majority of the population of Coronavirus-positive Van Buren County, despite its relatively small population.

The local health department reported that the number of Hispanic or Latino cases was four times that of residents.

Daniel Persky, director of health promotion at Van Buren/Cath District Health Department, said the Hispanic or Latino population accounted for 52% of Van Buren’s cumulative 416 cases.

According to the 2019 Census, Van Buren has a population of 75,677, 11.7% of Hispanic or Latino origin.

In Kalamazoo County, 14% of the total 1,559 cases in the county are in the Hispanic or Latino population. By comparison, Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.2% of the population in Kalamazoo County.

For the entire state, the total percentage of cases identified as Hispanic/Latin ethnic groups is 8%. According to census data, the population of Michigan is 5% Hispanic or Latino.

The disproportionate rate of cases is surprisingly high, but the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department does not classify it as a spike, Persky said. Since the start of the pandemic in March, the number of cases within the Hispanic or Latino population has increased.

The Department of Health announced a media release highlighting the clear gap on July 14, when the proportion of Hispanic or Latin cases reached 56%. At this point, Persky said the department had enough data to show any prominent trends.

In July, the incident was primarily among Hispanic and Latino residents in the county. Since then, more migrant workers have tested positive and are included in demographic data.

Health officials believe that both conditions of migrant work and cultural behavior are factors in health disparities, Persky said.

For example, travel is a high risk factor for migrant workers. Southernmost point County borders with Indiana continue to be high If new. Cass County and Branch County 9 hot spots in Michigan As of Wednesday, the spread of coronaviruses has accelerated.

Another important factor is the role poverty plays in health inequality, Persky said. Quarantine can be a great demand for those who are survivors of front-line jobs such as manufacturers and farmers.

“Being living in poverty when you’re not getting paid really makes a difference,” she said. “If your daily salary matters, it’s hard to ask someone to take 10-14 days off from work.”

The first surge of cases among Hispanic or Latino communities was the result of essential workers, Persky said. These professions can be vulnerable when they occur. For example, JBS Meat Packing Factory in Allegan County..

In multigenerational homes, the Department of Health has confirmed that the virus has spread throughout the family, increasing the risk for Hispanic or Latino aged, according to Persky.

All Hispanic or Latino patients who died of the coronavirus were over 60 years old, Persky said. The health department does not publish that data as it is very unlikely to compromise patient privacy.

The Department of Health has bilingual staff who work to insulate themselves from their families and to educate those who have tested positive about wearing a mask at home when they are together.

To mitigate the spread of the virus, the Department of Health has encouraged religious leaders and doctors to share education on quarantine, wearing masks, and social distance.

In addition, Van Buren/Cast District Health Department has partnered with a local testing facility to increase access to group testing opportunities for over 15 groups.

The Kalamazoo County Health Department had similar partnerships with the Family Health Center. A test site with bilingual staff Family tested together at El Concilio May 29th. that day 220 people were tested.

Epidemiology Mary Franks said the Hispanic or Latin mortality rates in Kalamazoo were less dramatic. Less than five Hispanic or Latina coronavirus patients have died of the virus, she said. The county does not publish its data as it is very unlikely to jeopardize the patient’s privacy.

Health disparities between Hispanic and Latin communities indicate that social factors such as employment, living conditions, and access to health care may increase vulnerability of minority groups in pandemics, Said Perksy.

“The disparity does not mean that somebody may be more or less contagious or test positive for COVID-19.” It is someone’s fault or guilt or It does not mean that there is a need for shame, it is not about the person himself, but about all other factors that apply to many minorities.”

On Wednesday, August 12, the state reported 517 new cases, for a cumulative 89,271 since the beginning of the pandemic. State data show that 9 new deaths and 6,273 are associated with the virus.

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