Throughout the last year, COVID has taken a disproportionate toll on Black and Hispanic communities. In one measure completed by the Fairfax County Health Department, Hispanic individuals in Fairfax County had a 7-fold higher age-adjusted risk of hospitalization and death compared with non-Hispanic whites, and are 4 times more likely to contract the disease.

The government is working in tandem with other community leaders to mitigate these issues. Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, Fairfax County Chief Equity Officer Karla Bruce-Choice, and Health Department Director of Epidemiology Ben Schwartz were joined by a number of community partners and advocates in a public meeting to discuss distribution equity. Some of the organizations represented included Black Women United for Action, the Virginia Latino Advisory Board, Network NOVA, and Rowan Tree’s Anti-Racism and Equity in Action Committee.

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Source:  Fairfax County Times