The city of St. Louis has reportedly sustained a stunning death toll among black residents during the coronavirus outbreak — all 12 COVID-19 deaths as of Wednesday were African Americans.
Dr. Fredrick Echols, director of the City of St. Louis Department of Health, revealed the grim statistic in a commentary for the St. Louis American.
"In fact, as of April 8, all 12 COVID-19 deaths in the City of St. Louis were African Americans," he wrote, addressing "a rumor" that blacks were not as vulnerable to the fast-spreading virus.
Recent data indicated 514 positive cases of coronavirus in the city of St. Louis, while St. Louis County reported 1,337 positive cases — the highest number of cases in the state of Missouri, Newsweek reported.
"We are learning more about the coronavirus every day, but let me tell you this in no uncertain terms: It doesn't care if you are black, brown, white, red, yellow or some other shade," Echols wrote. "The idea that African Americans are somehow resistant to it is both untrue and dangerous to the health of our community."
Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and heart conditions "disproportionately affect the black community," Echols wrote, which could place African Americans at a greater risk for contracting the virus.
"We are very sensitive to this situation," said Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Communications Director Lisa Cox in a statement to Newsweek Thursday. "This week, we have begun reporting out race-related case and death information, and we have reinforced the fact that reporting race to us is mandated by law."
Data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday showed that during March, 33% of those needing hospitalization for coronavirus were black, even though only 13% of the population of the United States is comprised of African Americans.
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