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So why did COVID spike in #SurreyBC over the past few weeks? Data from the @CDCofBC COVID Survey gives us some clues. Spoiler alert: it is a complex picture of social, economic, and health disparities in Newton. /thread
First, caveats: This is a self-reported survey about BCers' experiences with the pandemic over two weeks in May. It does not speak to what we are experiencing today or why exactly the second wave hit us harder.
All the recent geographic data we have points to higher rates of COVID specifically in Newton, home to the South Asian community. DBH attributed the recent COVID spike in #SurreyBC and elsewhere in the Lower Mainland to in-person social gatherings. But is there more to it?
Based on the survey results, Newton has a higher proportion of essential workers (44% work from home vs 62% across BC):
Newton residents experienced a higher proportion of current financial stress (45% vs 32% across BC) and future financial stress (65% vs 43% across BC):
Newton residents are more concerned about their health (48% vs 27% across BC) and the health of vulnerable family members (82% vs 63% across BC):
Newton residents have greater difficulty accessing healthcare from a family doctor (72% vs 52% across BC):
Newton (and Whalley) residents also had a lower sense of community belonging (46% vs 65% across BC).
In summary, Newton residents felt greater financial stress, worked more essential jobs, were more concerned for their health, had less access to a doctor, and had a lower sense of community belonging. These are all factors that could contribute to a greater spread of COVID.
Similar COVID spikes have occurred in other South Asian communities, including in England, Ontario, and Alberta. Clearly our healthcare systems, and broader social and community institutions, have neglected the unique needs and realities of this diaspora.
Another caveat: The ethnic data in the survey points to equal or worse disparities among Southeast Asian/Filipino, Black, Arab, and Hispanic people. These are much smaller communities in #SurreyBC but face many of the same systemic barriers that increase their risk of COVID.
