The health pandemic, COVID-19, might be ” disappearing” from President Donald Trump’s eyes, but for Black and Brown people, the disease is rising in these communities. Trump said he was given clearance from his medical team, that his COVID-19 status had been eliminated last week.
Last week, John Hopkins University confirmed that more than 210,918 American people have died from COVID-19, while 7.5 million people are infected with this virus in the United States.
Photo courtesy of Yolanda Joe
“Today it can be said that when America catches the coronavirus, our community is dying,” said Illinois Lt. Governor Julianna Stratton.
In struggling health areas, human beings’ lives are being eliminated daily. Numbers continue to rise to double digits in Illinois, as COVID spikes in Brown and Black ‘hoods.
“In Illinois, Black people represent about 14% of the state, but make up more than 25% of COVID-19 related deaths, according to latest figures from our state health department,” Stratton said during an event in Southern Illinois.
“And here in St. Clair, East St. Louis, Black people make up 13% of the people tested, but make up more than 30% of the positive cases,” Stratton said.
The Lt. Governor urged that Black America take stronger measures against COVID-19, by realizing the seriousness of the disease.
“Illinois is dedicated to fighting two pandemics -COVID and systemic racism,” she said. “Against COVID, we have surpassed six million tests, and rank among the best in the nation in the number of free testing sites and positivity rates,” Stratton said.
“We have much to do and being healthy, and strong, clear minded and COVID free aids in putting systemic racism out of commission, and elevating our country to be fair, equitable and just for our children and our children’s children,” Stratton said.
Free COVID testing still remains in Peoria, IL and is open to the public, without insurance.
While being interviewed on Face the Nation, Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said that he is investing his own money and resources into preparing a vaccine for all American people, but this medicine will not be ready until 2021.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading expert on COVID-19, has issued a warning that up to 400,00 people could die from COVID-19 this fall and winter if Americans do not follow the mandate to wear a mask, wash their hands frequently and socially distance from each other.
In a virtual conference sponsored by the American University, Dr. Fauci said that he does not see a vaccine for COVID-19 on the horizon this year.
The Traveler Weekly 