What Are the Long-Term Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hispanics?

Millions unemployed. The decline in the economy. Protests demanding for the economy to reopen. These are just a few of the realities we face for a pandemic that has altered life as we know it in the United States.

Now, they may say sickness doesn’t discriminate. But this pandemic has shown that it can, and it does as some ethnicities and races have been more affected than others. From financial shocks to health blows and their repercussions, the toll of this pandemic will be felt for generations. As such, Hispanics are looking to see how we will recover from the devastation that the pandemic has had on our community.

The impact of COVID-19 on the Hispanic community

Coronavirus deaths

Minority groups – Hispanic Americans and non-Hispanic Black Americans – have faced the highest rates of hospitalizations during the pandemic. Hispanic hospitalization averaged 4 times that of non-Hispanic whites.

No wonder the statistics compiled by the state of New York showed that Hispanics accounted for almost 31% of the recorded coronavirus deaths – 259.2 per 100,000 persons. To put this in context, note that Hispanics account for only 29.1% of the population of New York, and Whites 42.7%, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Hispanics make up a significant number of essential workers. Plus, employment as contractors, where you don’t get paid unless you work, regardless of illness, means you’ll be going out to work sick or interacting with already sick persons.

Job losses and pay cuts

According to a poll taken by the Pew Research Center, Hispanics were among the hardest hit employment wise due to the pandemic. Hispanics represent only 18% of the total U.S. population. Yet, they had some of the highest rates of impact from the pandemic.

• Pay cuts: Of Americans who reported that they had to take a pay cut, 40% were Hispanics.
• Job loss/layoffs: Hispanics accounted for 29% of Americans who reported losing their job or being laid off.
• Either/Both: Overall, 49% of Americans who reported that they had either experienced job loss or pay cut were Hispanics.

The sectors that were hardest hit have been those which feature strong Hispanic employment. Hospitality, including entertainment, food services, and accommodation, have had to lay off or send home workers because of an inability to pay their bills. Hispanics are also highly represented in construction, agriculture, services, retail, and warehouse – all heavily impacted by the virus.

Entrepreneurship

Hispanics have been the fastest rising minority group in terms of small business ownership. And small business owners have been severely impacted by the pandemic. Plus, while federal aid for small businesses can help with meeting payroll (as stipulated in the conditions for accessing same), it won’t be enough to recover losses or resume operations once the pandemic allows.

Why were Hispanics so affected?

As noted by the CDC, where we live, work, learn, and play impacts our health.

But we have always faced longstanding issues of health and social inequalities. Hispanics work in most of the sectors directly impacted by the virus as essential workers and front-line staff. Our communities are densely populated, and therefore, the inability to social distance is more pronounced.

Hispanics are also 3 times as likely to be uninsured as non-Hispanic whites. They are also less likely to access health care because of cost.

Long-term effects of the pandemic on Hispanics

More Hispanics have been forced out of business or lost employment because of the pandemic and have faced death at an unprecedented scale. These will have serious repercussion.

• The set-back in wealth generation

Loss of wealth accumulation in the Hispanic community will set back families for years if not decades to come. Small business owners have not only lost their businesses. The people they employed – many of them also Hispanics – have also lost their source of income. There is a lack of financial reserves to weather this period. And while the federal aid package for individuals will help to a large extent, most will have to restart from scratch rebuilding their businesses.

• The impact on mental health

Job losses and the deaths in Hispanic households have no doubt added to the stress that families are feeling. Compounded by access to quality health care, mental health will continue to have a negative long-term effect.

The way forward

Historically speaking, minorities have always been disproportionately affected by the effects of major health emergencies or disasters. The way forward starts with addressing the needs of minority populations and the historic structural inequality these groups face.

Reducing the impact of the pandemic now and preparing to prevent a similar occurrence means addressing all the systemic problems that contribute to the root cause.

• Access to health care:

Affordable health care is a necessity for a healthy society. As it stands, health care in America is one of the most expensive in the world. For the majority of Hispanics and other minorities, it’s a cost that’s beyond the average family’s reach. Yet, they make up a significant number of those employed in the sector.

We need to address the longstanding inequities that plague the healthcare system.

• Access to decent housing:

Living conditions impact how well we can respond to public health issues in a crisis like the one we currently face.

Discrimination in housing is something the Hispanic community has had to deal with for a long time. Hispanics often live in densely populated areas. Plus, with multiple generations living in the same household with no hope of social distancing, it makes it easier for viruses to spread. Of course, there is also racial housing segregation, though not as publicly acknowledged.

• A livable wage

Cost of living to meet basic needs for families’ needs to be a consideration going forward because 24% of Hispanics work in low-wage jobs.

We need to address the short-term effects of the pandemic. But solutions to the longstanding issues that gave rise to the disproportionately negative impact on Hispanic communities must be found to prevent a re-occurrence.

The pandemic has presented extraordinary challenges. And we’ll need extraordinary solutions to address them. Join local Hispanic activist groups and organizations to start advocating for the changes necessary, not just for our but also future generations of Hispanics.

Donate time or money to support groups and charities working to help Hispanics and other minority groups overcome the challenges they’ve encountered these past few months.

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