Michigan says racial disparities of virus have diminished in the state

Michigan says racial disparities of virus have diminished LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan reported Monday that Black residents are no longer being disproportionately infected and killed by the coronavirus, after they accounted for a staggering 40% of... AP NEWS

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan reported Monday that Black residents are no longer being disproportionately infected and killed by the coronavirus, after they accounted for a staggering 40% of deaths through much of the pandemic.

For the last two available weeks of data, African Americans represented 10% of COVID-19 deaths and 8% of cases. They comprise about 14% of the state’s population.

They still account for at least 38% of confirmed and probable deaths overall, and at least 20% of cases, according to state data. A patient’s race is not always reported.

Democratic Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II chairs a state task force that is addressing virus-related racial disparities. He credited people of color for being more likely to wear masks and follow safety guidelines — because they were hit hard at the beginning of the outbreak — and said the disparities’ downward trend has been holding for at least a month.

“We still need to be careful as we come into the fall, as we come into the flu season,” he told The Associated Press. “But thanks to the state of Michigan paying attention to this issue, prioritizing this issue — we have the most muscular response to racial disparities in the country — we can say that those disparities have flattened. That’s a testament to people of Michigan and the work of the experts on the task force.” ...