New data from the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities shows that such disparities in COVID-19 deaths and cases are lower than they were at earlier stages of the pandemic.

According to a recent report, African Americans make up 15% of the state’s population but throughout the pandemic, 29.4% of the state’s COVID cases have been among African American residents. However, in the last two weeks, that number has dropped with African Americans making up 8.2% of the state’s COVID cases.

The report focuses on the latest data relating to COVID-19 cases among African American residents in the state but also includes data showing a reduction in cases among Michigan’s Latinx population.

“The work of the Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, spearheaded by Lieutenant Governor Gilchrist, has helped us dramatically reduce the number of African Americans who have been impacted by COVID-19,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a press release. “We are not out of the woods yet and must continue to do our part to save lives and protect our brave frontline workers.”

The report also notes that African American residents have comprised 40.7% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths throughout the pandemic but that number has decreased to just under 10% in the last two weeks.

The task force’s work has mobilized partners around the state to engage in vital work to decrease COVID cases and deaths for Black residents, including:

• Distributing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the public.

• Strategic communications efforts targeting communities of color.

• Collaborating with regional task forces to share data and best practices.

• Improving access to COVID testing in communities of color.

“We have reason to be proud of the hard work and progress made to reduce the disparate impact of COVID-19 on Black people,” Lt. Governor Gilchrist said. “However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that we are still in the midst of a pandemic that continues to take the lives of our friends and family. We still have work to do to tackle generations of racial disparities and inequality to ensure that all Michiganders can lead happy and healthy lives.”

The 26-member task force is composed of leaders in health care, education, government and more. Leaders from Michigan philanthropy are also serving on the task force including Dr. Marijata Daniel-Echols, program officer at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), Celeste Sanchez Lloyd, a fellow at WKKF and Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Jr., senior pastor at Triumph Church in Detroit and trustee of The Skillman Foundation.

Whitmer’s office also announced 31 rapid response grants, totaling $20 million of CARES Act funding, to organizations addressing disparities throughout the pandemic, including food and housing insecurity, closing the state’s digital divide, increasing access to testing and other basic needs.

“The Rapid Response Grant Program will help us continue this hard work and create a blueprint that states across the country can follow to protect their most vulnerable,” Whitmer said.

Want more?

Read the state’s press release on COVID racial disparities data.

Read the Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities’ recent report.