COVID-19 cases and deaths will disproportionately impact people of color in West Virginia unless rapid surge testing and contact tracing (as-needed) are done in a way that reaches a high percentage of this at-risk population. African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and people of color account for 8.72 percent of the state population, but already account for 23.3 percent of confirmed cases. Many initial African American cases in West Virginia are associated with outbreaks in churches. It has been well documented by the CDC that socio-economic inequities and disproportional health disparities place racial and ethnic minorities at far greater risk for higher rates of contraction and the worst complications of COVID-19. In West Virginia, risk factors are compounded by isolation and distance from health centers and testing sites.
To prevent West Virginia’s people of color from disproportionate rates of contracting, suffering, and dying from COVID-19. This targeted community outreach approach is designed to rapidly achieve surge testing in 25 counties. Test at least 20 percent of individuals of color in WV who are at higher risk for the worst complications of COVID-19, while evaluating this mobile-testing community-based approach.
Already through our pilot testing we know that African Americans will avail themselves to testing if the testing sites are accessible and well-advertised through social networks. PAAC’s approach ensures that a qualified team of health professionals has access to prime community locations for testing and that these mobile testing sites are advertised to the most at-risk minority populations through well-networked social institutions and that thorough contact tracing begins promptly.