State Releases Interim Racial Disparities Task Force Report For COVID-19

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gilchrist1203

The state of Michigan is out with an interim report on the progress of the Michigan Task Force on Racial Disparities with COVID-19. Chaired by Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist, it shows significant progress in cutting the average number of cases and deaths among African-Americans. From March and April to September and October, the average cases per million per day for African-American Michiganders dropped from 176 to 59. In the same period, the number of probable deaths per million per day among African American Michiganders dropped significantly from 21.7 to 1.

“The big takeaway is that more than any particular intervention, it is the prioritized attention that our state has placed on reducing these disparities  and on resourcing and protecting these more vulnerable Michiganders that has led to these outcomes,” says Gilchrist. He adds the work hits home for him.

“This work is really, deeply personal to me. I have lost 24 people in my life to COVID-19.”

He’s urging everyone to continue to stay vigilant by wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing your hands.