by PublicSource reporters
On Friday, Allegheny County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen announced that 27% of all COVID-19 cases in Allegheny County were among Black people, though Black people only comprise 13% of the county population. They also account for 31% of hospitalizations and 20% of deaths resulting from COVID-19.
Allegheny County’s COVID-19 Dashboard is now displaying this more detailed information on race and ethnicity, according to a statement by Bogen. The county has integrated its Data Warehouse with health department COVID-19 reporting through the state’s PA-NEDSS database, Pennsylvania’s version of the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System.
Previously, PA-NEDSS lacked some information on the race and ethnicity of those who tested positive for COVID-19. The dashboard now also contains information on recoveries from COVID-19 and demographics on rates of testing, cases, hospitalizations and deaths.
“We know the coronavirus is having a disproportionate effect on communities of color in Allegheny County. A first step to addressing this inequity was amassing the needed data and analysis to pinpoint it,” Bogen said in the statement.
“The data show that while we’re doing a good job at getting testing to the Black community, the pandemic is tragically taking a larger toll on this community,” she added.
Causes for this disparity, she said, likely included higher rates of underlying health conditions linked to poverty, environmental factors and limited access to medical care, as well as a higher likelihood of working in-person and living in more crowded housing, which would increase exposure to the virus.
Allegheny County’s total number of COVID-19 infections went up to 2,065 on Friday, an increase of 10 cases from the day before.
The county reported no deaths; the total remains 173. Only five of those deaths were reported during the last week.
The county reported one hospitalization Friday, bringing the total to 355. The ages of those who have died range from 42 to 103, with the median age being 84.
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