Latino COVID-19 deaths in LA County up 1,000% since November, official says

LOS ANGELES -- The pandemic continues to disproportionately affect communities of color.

Los Angeles County Health Officer, Dr. Muntu Davis, talked about the staggering statistics on "GMA3: What You Need To Know" on Tuesday.

The rate of death of Latinx people is three times that of white communities, and Latino COVID-19 deaths are up 1,000% since November in L.A. County, Dr. Davis said.

Doctors urge county officials to strategically prioritize vaccine distribution within highly impacted neighborhoods.

Davis said a lot of people living in communities of color are essential workers and have been working throughout the pandemic.

"We try to make sure that risk is mitigated in the workplace. Beyond that, we have housing available for those who can't isolate or quarantine. We know that we have to do what we can to make sure that they know there is support if they are infected," he said.

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Dr. Davis said the high demand for a vaccine in Los Angeles County is making it hard to get an appointment.

Public health officials are trying to break down the numbers by race and ethnicity, to see how successful the distribution is for communities of color.

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