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Data shows African Americans might be more affected by COVID-19 than other groups-The Daily Tar Heel "We do know that communities of color will bear a disproportionate burden of this virus in the long term," said Kristin Prelipp, communications manager at the Orange County Health Department. We've talked a lot about COVID-19, and now we want to hear from you. If you have a tip, question or just want to share your experience, leave us a voicemail at (919) 391-4895. Prelipp said minorities are more likely to be employed as essential employees, which would leave them more open to exposure to coronavirus. She said these communities experience disproportionate rates of chronic disease like high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma that puts individuals at high risk of severe illness after developing COVID-19. "We cannot refer to these high rates of chronic disease without mentioning that African American communities also typically experience poverty, food deserts, gentrification, red-lining and environmental and systemic institutional racism at higher rates as well," Prelipp said. EDITORS PICKS 'Like a superhero': UNC System interim Farewell column: Here's to Remembering UNC student president expects campuses the unexpected Patrick Luc Nixon to reopen in the fall Data released by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services shows African Americans make up 38 percent of both the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 in the state. Comparatively, African Americans make up about 22 percent of the population in North Carolina, according to data from the United States Census Bureau. Renee Price, vice-chairperson of the Orange County Board of Commissioners, said she had a conversation with Carrboro Town Council Member Barbara Foushee about how COVID-19 has affected African Americans nationwide. Price said during the conversation, they realized they did not have any information about what was happening locally in Orange County. "After that phone call, I drafted a letter and sent it to our elected officials here in Orange County that are African American or Asian American," Price said. https://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2020/04/covid-racial-impact[5/15/20, 11:04:53 AM]