Letter to the Hon. Larry Hogan, Governor of the State of Maryland - Congressman Anthony Brown Highlights Racial Disparities in Coronavirus Outbreak, Requests Additional Data

Letter

Dear Governor Hogan:

The COVID-19 crisis that our country is currently combating is unlike any other public health emergency in modern history. There is no understating the threat that this virus poses to all Marylanders, and I commend the aggressive, necessary steps you have taken in the state to mitigate the spread of the virus. This pandemic has raised a multitude of preparedness challenges for our state and country, including limited testing capacity and critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) shortages. However, what is not clear is the disproportionate threat that this virus poses to Marylanders of different races and ethnicities.

Currently, the Maryland Department of Health releases daily statistics on the spread of COVID-19 in our state. Each day, this data includes the number of confirmed cases, deaths, hospitalizations, and negative tests in our state. The Maryland Department of Health also provides information on how cases are distributed by gender, age groups, and county. In the Department's breakdown of confirmed cases, I urge you to include information around race and ethnicity. Given the amount of data that the state is already collecting, I do not believe it is a heavy burden to provide this information on racial demographics and am encouraged by your pledge today to include this breakdown in the daily information released by the state.

However, this breakdown should also be incorporated in the tests that are performed. The Maryland Department of Health should leverage Maryland's health information exchange system, the Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP) and utilize its readily available demographic data to cross reference the results that private labs report out. Tracking the impact that any disease or health issue has on different races is both a fundamental part of healthcare and essential to understanding the whole threat that an issue presents to our communities. Without this knowledge, we cannot realize the full impact that this virus has on the different demographics in our state. Including this information seems like an attainable change that will yield us important knowledge to combat this pandemic.

From several states and localities that have already released information on how COVID- 19 cases are distributed across different communities, we are seeing alarming trends. For example, in Michigan, black people account for 14 percent of the state-wide population. Yet, residents account for 33 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases and 41 percent of deaths.

Additionally, in Illinois, black residents make up 30 percent of Chicago's population, yet account for 52 percent of cases and 68 percent of deaths. Here in Maryland, Prince George's County--the population of which is approximately 80% of color--is currently the most hard-hit county by COVID-19. It is becoming apparent that this virus is having a disproportionate impact on people of color--many of whom are less likely to have access to testing, which is critical to containing and mitigating the spread of the virus. If we are to have our best chance at fighting this public health crisis, we need full visibility of how this virus is attacking our communities.

We must have more information to confront this pandemic, not less. The lack of information will only exacerbate the existing health disparities--both in terms of care and treatment--and hinder our efforts to contain the spread of the virus in communities that may be at the highest risk. We need this data to ensure we can address the implications of these disparities as we expand testing and treatment around our state.

Thank you for your consideration and urge you not to delay collecting this vital information.

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