Rep. Ayanna Pressley, along with four other Democratic lawmakers have penned a letter to Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, demanding that the government “collect and publicly report on the racial and ethnic demographic information” for COVID-19 tests and patients.
They allege that the government is currently failing to do so.
“Without demographic data, policy makers and researchers will have no way to identify and address ongoing disparities and health inequities that risk accelerating the impact of the novel coronavirus and the respiratory disease it causes,” the letter reads.
“Although COVID-19 does not discriminate along racial or ethnic lines, existing racial disparities and inequities in health outcomes and health care access may mean that the nation’s response to preventing and mitigating its harms will not be felt equally in every community.”
Pressley signed the letter along with Senators Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris, and fellow Representative Robin Kelly.
The letter continues, “Our concerns echo those from some physicians: that decisions to test individuals for the novel coronavirus may be “more vulnerable to the implicit biases that every patient and medical professional carry around with them,” potentially causing “black communities and other underserved groups …[to] disproportionately mis[s] out on getting tested for COVID-19.” Without demographic data, policy makers and researchers will have no way to identify and address ongoing disparities and health inequities that risk accelerating the impact of the novel coronavirus and the respiratory disease it causes.”
Pressley made headlines earlier this month when she revealed that she had experienced flu-like symptoms and would be sell-quarantining until she received the results from her COVID-19.
Fortunately, Pressley tested negative for coronavirus.
“I am relieved to report that I have tested negative for COVID-19. I am, however still recovering from the flu, but feeling much better and continuing to work remotely with my team on COVID-19 response,” she said in a statement.
