High Rates of COVID-19 Among Minorities Associated With Exposures at Work, Home

Disproportionate rates of COVID-19 illness and death among racial and ethnic minorities likely stem from a higher probability of exposure to the virus at work and at home, according to a new study by AHRQ researchers. The analysis, published today in Health Affairs and based on data from the agency’s Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, identified large racial-ethnic differences in job characteristics, with blacks being substantially more likely than whites to work in the health sector, public safety and public utilities. Hispanics were much more likely than whites to work in food-related jobs, and both blacks and Hispanics were less likely than whites to be able to work at home, researchers concluded. The authors examined the connection between workers in high-exposure jobs and household members with high risk of severe illness if infected, offering new insights into why COVID-19 has disproportionately impacted minorities. Previous explanations have attributed the disparities to black and Hispanic adults being more likely than whites to suffer from underlying conditions. Access the study abstract as well as additional AHRQ COVID-19 resources.