Novant Health and Atrium Health are working with local community leaders to respond to the impact of COVID-19 in underserved communities. | Stock Photo
Novant Health and Atrium Health are working with local community leaders to respond to the impact of COVID-19 in underserved communities. | Stock Photo
The need to work is contributing to higher incidents of COVID-19 infections in underserved communities in Charlotte, resulting in companies like Atrium Health and Novant Health trying to establish a more focused response to those communities.
The Latino community in Mecklenburg County accounts for approximately 14% of the population, yet has produced more than 30% of positive COVID-19 cases, according to reporting by Modern Healthcare. That has led to speculation that the inability of those in the Latino community to quarantine while still providing for their families may be a contributing factor.
Other potential contributors include the higher rate at which Latino families cohabitate with elderly family members, according to Modern Healthcare.
In order to fashion a worthwhile response to the crisis, the providers have reached out to local civic leaders within communities.
“We don’t live in these communities and we don’t lead these communities,” Dr. Jerome Williams, senior vice president of consumer engagement at Novant Health, told Modern Healthcare. “At the grassroots level, we partner with trusted leaders in the community.”
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