On healthcare

As the number of deaths from the novel coronavirus moves past 100,000 in the US, African-Americans account for a disproportionate share of COVID-19 fatalities.

As of May 20, about 23 percent of reported COVID-19 deaths in the US are African-Americans, even though they constitute roughly 13 percent of the total population according to racial demographic information released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

There is also a disproportionate percentage of African-American deaths at the state level.

According to CDC data, African-Americans make up 33 percent of Louisiana's population, but they account for about 54 percent of COVID-19 deaths. In Michigan, African-Americans make up roughly 14 percent of the population and account for about 39 percent of deaths.

Existing health differences, such as poorer basic health and barriers to health care, may make members of ethnic and minority groups particularly vulnerable to public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a CDC report.

African-Americans are almost twice as likely to be uninsured as whites. In all age groups, African-Americans are less likely than whites to be able to see a doctor in an average year due to cost.

Long-term mistrust of the health care system, language barriers, and the financial impact associated with missing work to receive care also lead to asymmetric treatment.

Compared with whites, African-Americans have a higher mortality rate and a higher prevalence of chronic diseases.

The CDC released a report on March 31 that said smokers and people with diabetes, chronic lung disease or heart disease may be at increased risk of developing serious complications if they get infected with COVID-19.

According to a CNBC report, diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma are more likely to plague African-Americans than other racial groups.