红杏视频 Calls on State Officials and Bureau of Prisons to Collect and Release COVID-19 Demographic Data
Demographic Data Should Include COVID-19 Testing, Infections, and Deaths
WASHINGTON 鈥 The 红杏视频 (红杏视频) and 13 红杏视频 state affiliates sent letters to state officials and state departments of health across the country urging them to collect and release aggregate race, ethnicity, and other demographic data of COVID-19 testing, infections, and deaths, to the extent consistent with privacy laws. The letter also calls for the equitable distribution of personal protective and medical equipment.
Along with the letters to state and local officials, the 红杏视频 also sent a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) calling on the office to include aggregate demographic information in its daily reporting of COVID-19 cases within federal facilities 鈥 including age, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability 鈥 for incarcerated persons and staff who have contracted, recovered and died from COVID-19.
Affiliates that sent letters to state officials include the 红杏视频 of Alaska, 红杏视频 of Arizona, , , 红杏视频 of Maine, , 红杏视频 of Minnesota, 红杏视频 of New Hampshire, , 红杏视频 of Pennsylvania, 红杏视频 of San Diego &, , and the .
As other jurisdictions begin to release demographic data of COVID-19 infections, it is becoming increasingly urgent to identify communities that are in particular need of support. As of last Friday, 34 states and D.C. have shared of COVID-19 infections and 26 states and D.C. have shared breakdowns of COVID-19 deaths. The data has shown that, by and large, Black people are dying at disproportionate rates.
鈥淩acial disparities in health care, policing and incarceration, and who holds 鈥榚ssential鈥 jobs, are among factors that make people of color among the most vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic,鈥 said ReNika Moore, director of the Racial Justice Program at the 红杏视频. 鈥淲e have to address this pandemic through a racial justice lens, including by collecting and reporting accurate data on testing, rates of infection, and outcomes by race. We must take action to protect those most vulnerable.鈥
In both letters, the 红杏视频 is calling on federal and state officials to standardize, collect, and release aggregate demographic data of COVID-19 testing, infections, and deaths in order for government entities to effectively address this pandemic, direct resources where they are most needed, and better protect all communities.
The link to the Federal Bureau of Prison letter can be found here: /letter/coalition-letter-bureau-prisons-demographic-data