A state task force is working to come up with solutions to address long-standing health disparities among black Michiganders, who make up a disproportionate number of COVID-19 deaths. While African Americans make up just 14% of the state’s population, as of mid-April they accounted for more than 40% of coronavirus deaths. Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist says the state has boosted testing efforts in Detroit and other areas, and notes Michigan is one of the first states to appoint a team focused specifically on racial health inequities.
“We in the state of Michigan have one of, if not the most, diverse leadership team that’s making choices on behalf of the people of the state of Michigan. We have Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, myself, a black man, and Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, our chief medical executive, a black woman. And so I think this is an example of why representation matters.”
The statistics in Michigan echo trends across the country. According to a report by APM Research Labs, nationwide African-Americans are up to two-point-six times more likely to die from COVID-19-related complications than other groups.Gilchrist says task force members also are searching for ways to fund efforts to thwart the impact of racial disparities resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.
