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Michigan Says Racial Disparities Of Virus Have Diminished

Coronavirus illustration
Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS
/
CDC
This illustration, created at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reveals ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses.

Michigan is reporting that Black residents are no longer being disproportionately infected and killed by the coronavirus, after they accounted for a staggering 40% of deaths and 29% of cases in the early days of the pandemic. 

For the last two available weeks of data, African-Americans represented 10% of COVID-19 deaths and 8% of cases. They comprise 15% of Michigan's population.

They still account for at least 38% of confirmed and probable deaths overall, and at least 20% of cases.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II credits people of color for being more likely to wear masks and follow safety guidelines.

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