New report: Deadliest COVID waves 4.5x higher deaths in poorest counties

Contact: Faith Morris, faith@poorpeoplescampaign.org

SPECIAL REPORT

As the nation approaches nearly 1 million deaths, the findings reveal that the poorest counties suffered twice as many deaths as the wealthiest ones during COVID-19, and it did not have to be  

In COVID-19’s deadliest waves there were 4.5X more deaths in the poorest counties

COVID-19 “was not only a national tragedy, but also a failure of social justice. The burden of disease — in terms of deaths, illness, and economic costs — was borne disproportionately by the poor, women, and people of color. The poor were America’s essential workers, on the front lines, saving lives and also incurring disease and death.”

“We can no longer ignore the reality of poverty and dismiss its root causes as the problems of individual people or communities. There has been systemic failure to address poverty in this country and poor communities have borne the consequences not only in this pandemic, but for “years and generations before.“

April 4, 2022

Prepared by Poor People’s Campaign:
A National Call for Moral Revival & UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network 

 
A report to connect COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. to both poverty and race will be released April 4 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., by the Poor People’s Campaign and a team of world-renowned economists, researchers and experts. 

The unprecedented findings of the Poor People’s Pandemic Digital Report and Intersectional Analysis will be released at 10 a.m. ET by the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. 

Media can attend in person or can cover remotely and email questions to this address: press@poorpeoplescampaign.org

 The news conference will be live-streamed here.  

Bishop William Barber II, co-chair, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival (PPC:NCMR) said, “On the 54th anniversary of the murder of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when he was pleading with the nation to address poverty, racism and militarism, it is shameful that we have 140 million poor and low-wealth people in this nation.

“Even in a global pandemic, there hasn’t been a systematic assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on poor and low-income communities. COVID-19 data collection does not include data on poverty, income, or occupation, alongside race and pandemic outcomes. The Poor People’s Pandemic Digital Report and Intersectional Analysis addresses this knowledge gap and exposes the unnecessary deaths by mapping community characteristics and connecting them with COVID-19 outcomes.

“The findings of this report reveal neglect and sometimes intentional decisions to not focus on the poor. The neglect of poor and low-wealth people in this country during a pandemic is immoral, shocking and unjust, especially in light of the trillions of dollars that profit-driven entities received.

“It is further evidence why we must have a Mass Poor People’s and Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls on June 18 as a declaration that our movement will intensify and embolden our agitation for this nation to have a third reconstruction that fully addressed poverty, racism, ecological devastation, denial of healthcare, and the war economy.  We must shift the moral narrative; we must put a face on this human abuse; and we must build power and refuse to be silent anymore.”

Renowned economist Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, president of SDSN, Columbia University professor and co-chair of the SDSN USA network, said that COVID-19 “was not only a national tragedy, but also a failure of social justice. The burden of disease — in terms of deaths, illness, and economic costs — was borne disproportionately by the poor, women, and people of color. The poor were America’s essential workers, on the front lines, saving lives and also incurring disease and death.

“This pandemic report aims to shed light on the unequal burden of the pandemic, and to help point the way towards a fairer, healthier and more prosperous nation.” 

Included are findings from a total sweep of over 3,000 counties which includes data on COVID-19 deaths, income, race and other characteristics. 

“This analysis compares US counties from the poorest 10% to the richest 10% and shows that, overall, the poorest counties have grieved nearly two times the losses of wealthiest counties,” said Shailly Gupta Barnes, policy director for the PPC:NCMR. “During the deadliest waves of the pandemic (winter 2020-2021 and Omicron) death rates were even higher — four and a half and three times as high - in the poorest counties. This cannot be explained by vaccination status. Over half of the population in these counties have received their second vaccine shot, but uninsured rates are twice as high.” 

See county-level data on COVID-19 deaths, income, race and more on this interactive dashboard. 

The complete digital report and intersectional analysis will be live on April 4. 

During the news conference, a cohort of economists, researchers and experts will reveal the interactive map and dashboard, where researchers, policymakers, and everyday people will explore this data in real-time. Community members from some of the poorest and hardest-hit counties will also speak. 

“The COVID-19 disparities among counties across the US are striking. This report shows clearly that COVID-19 became a ‘poor people’s pandemic.’” said Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, national co-chair of PPC:NCMR. “We can no longer ignore the reality of poverty and dismiss its root causes as the problems of individual people or communities. There has been systemic failure to address poverty in this country and poor communities have borne the consequences not only in this pandemic, but for “years and generations before. However, this does not need to continue. Our nation has the resources to fully address poverty and low wealth from the bottom up.”

Amplifying the findings of the Poor People’s Pandemic Report

After the news conference, the PPC:NCMR and state leaders from DC, Virginia and Maryland will dedicate Freedom Plaza, the site of the June 18th assembly and march. After that, they will march to an area near 9th and Pennsylvania for a call to the June 18th assembly and march. 

On Sunday, April 3, Rev. Barber will deliver a sermon at National City Christian Church for the 55th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence” speech at Riverside Church about poverty, racism and the war-based economy. The Poor People’s Campaign is asking pastors and leaders of congregations across the country to speak on the same theme.