Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities of Covid-19 attacks rates in Suffolk County communities

TL;DR

This study analyzes how Covid-19 attack rates in Suffolk County communities are significantly higher among minority populations, especially Black and Hispanic groups, highlighting racial and socioeconomic disparities in disease impact.

Contribution

It provides empirical evidence of strong correlations between Covid-19 attack rates and minority population proportions in Suffolk County.

Findings

Black and Hispanic populations have approximately 4 times higher attack rates.

Disparities are strongly linked to demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Minority communities are disproportionately affected by Covid-19.

Abstract

We investigated the dependence of Covid-19 attack rates on demographic and socioeconomic factors for the communities in Suffolk County (Long Island, New York State), presently the 5th most-affected county in the United States. Confirming the previous observations that minorities are disproportionately impacted by the Covid-19 disease, we found that the attack rate is strongly correlated with the minority population proportion, with an alarmingly high $\sim4$-fold attack rate increase for Black and Hispanic populations.