b7bc2483-f22f-4d22-8902-ac2b4c6afb7b_COVID_CBC_Data_Analysis

COVID CBC Data Analysis

Overview

• Racialized and lower-income communities in Toronto are disproportionately affected by COVID-19.

• Black individuals account for 21% of reported cases while comprising only 9% of the city's population.

• Overall, Black people and other people of colour constitute 83% of reported COVID-19 cases in Toronto, even though they represent only half of the total population.

Key Findings Presented by Public Health

• Data Presentation: Dr. Eileen de Villa and Mayor John Tory shared findings showing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on marginalized communities.

• Black communities: 21% of reported cases vs. 9% of the population.

• Arab, Middle Eastern, and West Asian communities: 11% of reported cases vs. 4% of population.

• East Asian and white populations are notably underrepresented among COVID-19 cases.

Hospitalization Data

• Hospitalization Figures: 71% of COVID-19 patients hospitalized are people of colour. However, this statistic is based on a small sample size.

• Lower-income households are greatly affected, with 51% of reported cases coming from low-income households, compared to 30% of the overall population.

Household Size and Income

• Households with five or more individuals constitute 27% of cases, despite only accounting for 20% of Toronto's population.

• Expert Insight: Kwame McKenzie argues that COVID-19 has amplified existing inequities, stating it is not an equalizer but rather a discriminator.

Systemic Issues Highlighted

• Racialized individuals are more likely to face poverty, substandard housing, crime, discrimination, and precarious employment.

• McKenzie criticizes the federal government for not collecting race-based data during the pandemic.

Data Limitations

• The collected data is based on voluntary reporting of socio-demographic information by infected individuals.

• Approximately 27% of cases did not have socio-demographic information recorded.

• Excluded populations from the data set include long-term care residents and Indigenous peoples, as consultations are ongoing.

Community Response and Future Actions

• Public Health Initiatives: The health agency is prioritizing tailored responses for impacted communities, such as:

  • Targeted COVID-19 testing

  • Enhanced communication strategies

  • Increased access to social supports, including voluntary isolation sites.

• Long-Term Goals: Address systemic racism, affordable housing, and provide educational and employment opportunities.

• McKenzie emphasizes the importance of collecting and utilizing socio-demographic data for equitable health responses in the future.

1. Independent Factors: Two factors are independent if the occurrence of one does not affect the occurrence of the other. Given that the data shows a disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on racialized and lower-income communities, particularly that Black individuals account for 21% of reported cases despite only making up 9% of the population, we can conclude that these factors are not independent. The presence of COVID-19 cases significantly correlates with racial identity in this context.

2. Disjoint (Mutually Exclusive) Factors: Two factors are disjoint if they cannot occur at the same time. In this case, COVID-case and race are not disjoint because COVID-19 cases can occur within any racial group. The data indicates that multiple racial groups are affected by COVID-19, which directly shows that the categories do overlap.