Black Americans continue to make up a disproportionate share of COVID-19 fatalities as the number of deaths from the coronavirus pandemic exceeds 100,000 in the United States, according to an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 23 percent of reported COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. are African American as of May 20, even though black people make up roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population, according to racial demographic information on COVID-19 cases and deaths from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma that tend to plague African Americans more than other racial groups could be contributing to more COVID-19 deaths. Income inequalities and disparities in access to health care, which generally lead to poorer diets and overall health, tend to hurt minority and lower-income populations more than others.

Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, said in April that the coronavirus outbreak is “shining a bright light” on how “unacceptable” the health disparities between blacks and whites are.

The disproportionate share of African American deaths is also seen state by state. In Georgia, black Americans represent 32 percent of the state’s population but account for roughly 47 percent of COVID-19 deaths, according to the CDC data.

In Michigan, black people make up nearly 14 percent of the population and account for roughly 39 percent of deaths. In New York City, the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S., black Americans and people in lower-income communities have been getting hit disproportionately harder by the coronavirus, Mayor Bill de Blasio has said.

On March 31, the CDC released a report that said people with diabetes, chronic lung disease or heart disease or those who smoke may be at increased risk of developing severe complications if they get infected with the coronavirus.

Other U.S. officials and experts say the number of COVID-19 deaths among black Americans also reflects longstanding inequalities in the country, including access to medical attention and food. They said black Americans also disproportionately represent workers who are not able to work from home as part of social distancing measures intended to curb the spread of the virus.

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【震中】 zhènzhōng epicenter the central point of something, typically a difficult or unpleasant situation

【慢性的】mànxìng de chronic persisting for a long time or constantly recurring

美国疾病控制与预防中心的数据分析显示，随着美国新冠肺炎死亡人数突破10万，美国黑人死亡率持续偏高。

根据美国疾病控制与预防中心国家卫生统计中心的新冠肺炎种族人口统计信息，截至5月20日，美国报告的新冠肺炎死者中有近23%是非裔美国人，而黑人在美国总人口中的比例为13%。

非裔美国人比其他种族更容易患上糖尿病、高血压和哮喘，而这些病症更可能导致患者死于新冠肺炎。收入不均和获得医疗服务的机会不平等通常会导致饮食不良以及整体健康状况更差，这往往会让少数族裔和低收入人群更容易受到疫情伤害。

美国首席传染病专家安东尼▪福奇博士四月份时说过，新冠疫情的暴发“让世人清楚地看见”，黑人与白人在卫生方面的不平等是多么“不可接受”。

非裔美国人的死亡率偏高也可以从各州的数据看出。根据美国疾病控制与预防中心的数据，在乔治亚州，美国黑人占总人口的32%，但死于新冠肺炎的黑人却占了新冠肺炎死亡总数的近47%。

在密歇根州，黑人占了总人口的近14%，但是死于新冠肺炎的黑人占了新冠肺炎死亡总数的近39%。

纽约市市长白思豪称，在美国疫情中心纽约市，黑人和低收入人群遭受了格外严重的疫情打击。

3月31日，美国疾病控制与预防中心发布的一份报告称，患有糖尿病、慢性肺病或心脏病的人以及吸烟者感染新冠病毒后产生严重并发症的风险更高。

其他美国官员和专家表示，美国黑人新冠肺炎死亡率高发也反映出美国长期存在的不平等，包括获得医疗救助和食物的机会不平等。

他们指出，美国黑人很大比例地代表了那些在社交隔离措施实施期间无法在家工作的劳动者。

(chinadaily.com.cn)