Redlining & COVID-19

In Santa Clara County, Hispanic/Latinos make up 25.8% of the total population, yet comprise 56.3% of COVID-19 cases (SCC COVID-19 dashboard, as of Nov 20, 2020).

Inequity: exposed

BIPOC are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in California

(APM Research Lab)

How can demographic trends in COVID-19 cases in San Jose, CA be explained by redlining?

Health and wellbeing in a broad sense are influenced by location, available resources, and surrounding culture, among other social determinants of health.

As redlining has segregated communities on the basis of race, so too has it shaped built and social environment. Many neighborhoods that were D-rated in the 1930's continue to lack important resources that influence health outcomes, such as health clinics, nutritious food options, and even quality education. "A" rated neighborhoods, contrastingly, benefited from infrastructural investment and were supported with health services, quality schools -usually paid for by property taxes, etc.

Exposure to COVID is Greater

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the reality that communities of color have been disproportionately impacted can largely be explained by the long-standing ramifications of historic redlining practices.

Housing

Lack of affordable housing has resulted in overcrowded housing, making it difficult to practice physical distance.

Finances

Financial constraints leave these communities at higher risk. Many lack the time outside of working full-time to get tested for COVID-19, and accessing public transportation to testing sites may be risky

Occupation

Many essential workers live in redlined communities, creating a higher risk of exposure within these neighborhoods. Many are still working full-time and are unable to take time off work to isolate/quarantine as there is a need to support their family.

Access

Lack of culturally appropriate education/translation of educational information leaves this community in the dark. Misinformation spreads quickly, creating fear, distrust, and dissatisfaction in organizations offering support.

Severity of COVID-19

Not only are communities of color at a higher risk for contracting the virus, but they are more likely to suffer greater consequences if they do come into contact with the virus.

Chronic Disease

Pre-existing conditions/ comorbidities more prevalent among low-income communities, higher risk of death

Health Care

Lack of access to medical services/health care, higher risk of death

Quarantine & Money

Lack of financial equity/wealth gap/less savings, the loss of a job or a few weeks of work is far more economically devastating

"Today, [historically redlined] neighborhoods suffer not only from reduced wealth and greater poverty, but from lower life expectancy and higher incidence of chronic diseases that are risk factors for poor outcomes from COVID-19 (National Community Reinvestment Coalition)".

Distribution of COVID-19 Cases: SCC Zip Codes

Zipcodes with higher rates of cases per 100,000 residents appear a darker shade of blue (SCC COVID-19 dashboard, data as of 12/08/2020)

Revisiting the historic map of redlining in San Jose, we can see the beginnings of causal patterns...

HOLC 1937

Neighborhoods of San Jose that are most impacted by COVID-19 align with lower rated neighborhoods on the historic redlining map

West San Jose

In the 95128, a neighborhood rated "Best" in 1937, the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents is 2,066.

East San Jose

In the 95127, a neighborhood rated "Definitely Declining" in 1937, the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents is 4,124.

South San Jose

In the 95111, a neighborhood rated "Hazardous" in 1937, the rate of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents is 4,154.

Redlining has created entire neighborhoods that are more vulnerable to COVID-19

According to the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, redlined neighborhoods experience higher rates of comorbidities like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity, and diabetes (2020). These comorbidities make COVID-19 more dangerous. Comorbidities increase the chances that COVID-19 is fatal. Redlining has ensured that "definitely declining" and "hazardous" neighborhoods are more at risk for chronic disease because of the composition of their built environments and the access that comes with it. In addition, redlining has engineered neighborhoods so that these health outcomes are now concentrated. When COVID-19 moves through the homes in South San Jose the virus is contacting a cluster of people who are vulnerable. The concentration of these disadvantaged populations makes them even more vulnerable in the face of a virus spread via close proximity to others.

“Disparities in COVID-19 infection and illness severity are a result of widespread social and economic inequities produced by structural racism.” (Meier, 2020)

56.3% of COVID-19 cases in Santa Clara County are among the Latinx community even though they only make up 25.8% of our population (on 12/09/2020). Latinos are sicker and are dying more often than their white peers not because "race" is a risk factor for COVID-19, but because racism is so entrenched in our society that it has manifested itself on the biological level. We created this disparity. Immediate action is needed to slow and eradicate this pattern in the future to protect the health of our entire San Jose community.

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