black people and covid-19
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CDC's New Numbers Show Black Americans and Other People of Color Dying at Higher Rates From COVID-19 Than It Previously Reported
After initially saying that Black Americans are dying at about two times the rate of their white counterparts from COVID-19, the CDC has updated its publicly reported figures to show that the racial disparity in deaths from the disease is even wider. An adjusted data report published by the agency this week now shows that…
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Black Doctors Release Letter Encouraging Black Families to Take COVID-19 Vaccine When It’s Safe, Avoid Gatherings During the Holidays
Last week, when discussing my hopes and goals for the next year with my mom, the necessity of a vaccine obviously came up. “Uh, I’m not taking it at first, and neither are you,” she told me. “We’re going to let them take it and see what happens”— “them” obviously meaning white folks. This attitude…
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'Birthday Sex' Singer Jeremih Hospitalized in ICU With COVID-19
Despite how much we may want it to be over, COVID-19 is not through with us. The latest indication of this is the saddening news that Jeremih, the 33-year-old singer-songwriter from Chicago who broke onto music the scene in 2009 with his massively successful track “Birthday Sex”, has been hospitalized with the coronavirus and is…
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Coronavirus Vaccine Won't Be Ready Until at Least Spring, Moderna CEO Says
At a health conference on Wednesday, Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company’s coronavirus vaccine won’t be ready until spring of next year. CBS News reports that Bancel added Moderna won’t seek emergency authorization for the vaccine to be used by healthcare workers and at-risk individuals until Nov. 25, at the earliest. The company won’t…
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Black Physicians to Independently Test the Safety of COVID-19 Vaccines
The oldest organization of Black physicians has vowed to independently vet the safety and effectiveness of any potential COVID-19 vaccine. According to CBS News, the National Medical Association (NMA) is tracking the data due to fears that political motivations could outweigh safety concerns when it comes to a vaccine. “This is about ensuring safety for…
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American Express Launches 'Coalition to Back Black Businesses,' Applications for First Round of $5,000 Grants Now Open
The coronavirus pandemic has placed an extraordinary toll on the Black community. The virus has become the third-leading cause of death for Black people and the economic fallout has had a disproportionate effect on Black people, as well. A program launched by American Express intends to alleviate some of the economic stress. Fast Company reports…
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Study Shows Black People Are Underrepresented in COVID-19 Vaccine Trials
A new study has revealed that despite being disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Black people are underrepresented in clinical trials for a vaccine. CBS News reports that while Black people make up 18 percent of the nation’s population, they only represent 11 percent and 16 percent of Pfizer and Moderna’s vaccine trials, respectively. Both…
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Study Shows Police Killings Haven't Slowed Despite There Being A Whole-Ass Pandemic
A new study has shown that despite the ongoing pandemic, there has not been a significant decrease in fatal police shootings. According to NBC News, a report by the ACLU titled “The Other Epidemic: Fatal Police Shootings in the Time of COVID-19,” shows that through June of this year there had been 511 fatal police…
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As US Death Toll Hit 1,000 Per Day, New Study Says COVID-19 Has Become Third Leading Cause of Death for Black People
COVID-19 has taken an unrelenting toll on this country in the five months since the pandemic began. As deaths hit 1,000 per day over the last month, new data suggests that COVID-19 has become the third leading cause of death for Black people. According to CBS News, a new study from the Brookings Institution shows…
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The Death of a Mississippi Teacher From COVID-19 Increases Fears of an Outbreak as Schools Reopen
Despite most medical professionals saying “Hey, don’t do that,” schools across the country are steadily beginning to reopen. In Mississippi, the death of a beloved teacher while self-quarantining has increased fears of a COVID-19 outbreak during the first week of school. Mississippi Today reports that 42-year-old Nacoma James, a Black man, died on Thursday while…