LA County Says Those in Lower Income Communities More Vulnerable to CCP Virus

A man skates on the sidewalk while wearing a face mask and carrying bags in Los Angeles, Calif., on March 20, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

A new study from officials in Los Angeles County, California, has revealed that those living in lower-income communities are more likely to die from the CCP virus than those living in wealthier areas.

On Sunday, as Los Angeles County public health officials announced 19 additional deaths and 440 new cases of the virus, they revealed those who live in lower-income areas are three times more likely to die of the virus than those who do not, according to a press release.

Neighborhoods where 30 percent to 100 percent live in poverty have experienced 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people from the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, in comparison with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people in communities where less than 10 percent of residents live in poverty, said Barbara Ferrer, director of the county Department of Public Health.

“The most difficult part of the COVID-19 pandemic is losing people to the virus,” she said. “To all of you who have lost loved ones, we are deeply sorry.”

Public health officials said that black people have the highest COVID-19 death rate in the county and experience 13 deaths per 100,000 people. In comparison, white people experience 5.5 deaths, Asian people experience 7.5 deaths, and Latino people experience 9.5 deaths per 100,000 people, respectively, according to health authorities.

“As we have more information about who is dying, we are reminded that the work ahead requires that we address issues of disproportionately that result in higher rates of death among African Americans, [Latino] and Asians as well as residents living in poverty,” Ferrer said. “Ensuring access to testing, early treatment and care, and economic support among those communities at higher risk of devastating outcomes associated with COVID-19, is essential.”

The revelation about at-risk populations came after thousands of people gathered at beaches in nearby Orange County over the weekend as temperatures soared.