How COVID-19 Response Impacted Essential Workers

The consequences of SARS-CoV-2 have been particularly felt among wage workers, many of whom have been in contact with people throughout the pandemic due to their employment while young professionals shelter-in-place.

According to Dr. Carlos del Rio, the term health disparity came into widespread use in the United States around 1990. It was intended to highlight health challenges facing socially disadvantaged people and, in particular, members of certain racial and ethnic groups and those who are economically disadvantaged.

The stakes of the conversation around COVID-19, therefore, have become even higher as demographic data emerge to show its sizable impact on those political leaders praised as essential workers.

In this clip, Dr. Martin Kulldorff explains how he believes the COVID-19 response strategy has truly affected the working class in the US.

Kulldorff also answers whether an age-based coronavirus strategy would worsen the pandemic's impact on workers from minority groups.