COVID-19 and the True Cost of Reopening

California is at a crossroads. The state stands between a crushing winter surge that has taken thousands of lives and the hope of increasing vaccine distribution. As our collective attention turns towards the massive undertaking of vaccinations, we must never lose focus on controlling the virus’s spread within California’s most vulnerable communities — Black, Latinx, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
Read our interactive report, COVID-19 and the True Cost of Reopening
Containing COVID-19 and reducing racial disparities must be prioritized over reopening county economies. Decisions to reopen aspects of the economy even as case rates remain high will lead to increased infections and have disparate impacts.
No Californian is safe until all Californian’s are safe. Our leaders must strengthen the state’s framework for regional and county reopenings to prevent a repeat of the winter surge. See our full list of recommendations at www.racecounts.org/covid-statewide and look out for our COVID-19 Statewide Index coming February 3rd, 2020.