CDC reports examine COVID-19 hotspots, racial and ethnic disparities

One in four U.S. counties, or 818,  were COVID-19 hotspots for at least one day in the period between March 8 and July 15, representing 80% of the U.S. population, according to a report released Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A second report found that of the 205 hotspot counties identified nationwide in June, only 79 counties reported the patient’s race for more than 50% of cases, and in 96% of those counties, racial and ethnic disparities were noted.

Additionally, CDC yesterday released a report on racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in Utah. Hispanic and other non-white workers accounted for 73% of the 1,389 COVID-19 cases associated with workplace infections in Utah between March 6 and June 5. The outbreaks were primarily in manufacturing, construction and wholesale trade.