Data from US states shows that the coronavirus is wreaking havoc in African American neighborhoods, highlighting disparities in health and inequalities in access to medical care.
African Americans make up just 14.6% of the Illinois’ population, however, the state’s public health agency says black people account for 30% of the state’s cases and about 40% of its coronavirus deaths, showing that African Americans are more likely to die from COVID-19.
In Chicago, black people account for half of all coronavirus cases in the city and more than 70% of deaths, despite making up 30% of the population.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the coronavirus was "devastating black Chicago".
Public health commissioner Dr Allison Arwady said Chicago’s black residents already lived on average about 8.8 years less than their white counterparts.
In the state of Michigan, black people make up 14% of the population, but the state health department said they account for 33% of the coronavirus cases and 41% of deaths.
Figures from the state health department showed white residents account for about 23% of recorded cases in Michigan and 28% of deaths.
Also, African Americans in the New Orleans area, where the majority of residents are black, account for 40% of Louisiana's coronavirus (COVID-19) deaths.
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