Communities of color bear the brunt of coronavirus

Data reveals that African Americans are especially susceptible to COVID-19. Health experts point to a range of reasons: lack of testing, higher rates of underlying conditions, distrust of the medical establishment.

“One in eight in this country are black in terms of population, but only one in 15 physicians are black,” says Dr. Oliver T. Brooks. “And there are studies that show when black physicians treat black patients, the black patients have better outcomes.”

KCRW speaks with two black physicians about why COVID-19 affects the African American community so heavily, and what can be done to reach better health outcomes among communities of color.