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I looked at the @HoustonChron ‘s breakdown of #COVID19 infection rates and deaths by zip code. The area that I was raised and live in now was number 4 on the list of most deaths but did not have the highest number of infections meaning we have worse outcomes. Why? @tejasbarrios
According to @zipdatamaps. The largest ethnic group is Hispanic at 84% and 95% of 77087 students are eligible to participate in free or reduced lunch programs. This area can be classified socioeconically as a Lower Middle Class.
The current (not sure when these were tabulated) unemployment level in 77087 is 8.8% which is higher than the current county unemployment level of 5.8% and is higher than the current state unemployment at 8.0% and higher than the current national unemployment rate at 6.7%.
This area has high levels of #EssentialWorkers, #uninsured, #undocumented residents and suffers from other social determinantes of health including poor air quality but why is that important?
Well, since I moved back home, I’ve been noticing the poor air quality and complaining about scratchy throats and other respiratory issues that I suffered from as a child. Only now, I’m a community organizer looking at health impacts from fossil fuels and urban landscapes.
In an effort to understand the impacts from air quality, I’ve been collecting air quality data from a device that measures VOCs, NO2, PM10 & PM2.5. and I’ve noticed some alarming trends in outdoor air quality. Throughout the day, PM10 and PM2.5 are off the charts(very high). So?
So, after looking at the @HoustonChron report and wanting to understand the numbers I tried to make sense of the data by remembering what I know. I know that a recent @HarvardChanSPH study looking at links between #COVID19 and air pollution. Check it out. https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/air-pollution-linked-with-higher-covid-19-death-rates/
I also know that I have been measuring really high levels of particulate matter with my air monitor. This was the reading just about an hour ago. I’m not saying that this is why we have a disproportionate number of deaths in zip code 77087 from #COVID19 but it merits more study.
What is unacceptable is for us to do nothing about this deadly pandemic. We need to understand how to best protect our neighbors, friends and family. Forty six people have already died from #COVID19 in 77087 and 3,295 cases have been confirmed. Something must be done.
. @HoustonChron, tlazocamati. If you want to check if your zip code made the list you can visit the page below. These Harris County ZIP codes have the highest number of COVID cases, data shows
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/guides/harris-county-covid-cases-zip-codes/
Sent from my iPhone
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/guides/harris-county-covid-cases-zip-codes/
Sent from my iPhone
Meanwhile, instead of addressing deadly #COVID racial disparities, Texas is actively prohibiting affirmative actions to address them. Dallas County axes plan to prioritize vaccinating communities of color after state threatens to slash allocation https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/20/dallas-vaccine-plan-communities-of-color/
Leadership! US Rep. Ayanna Pressley said today that she is frustrated with the vaccination rollout so far in her congressional district...and calling for a better-coordinated effort to get the medication to people in city neighborhoods hit hardest.
https://www.dotnews.com/2021/pressley-calls-better-coordination-getting-vaccine-shots-city
https://www.dotnews.com/2021/pressley-calls-better-coordination-getting-vaccine-shots-city
