CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Clinic is launching a new public service announcement regarding the African American community and COVID-19.
According to Dr. Charles Modlin, urologist and director of Cleveland Clinic’s Minority Men’s Health Center, while African Americans represent 13 percent of the population in Ohio, they represent about 25 percent of coronavirus cases, more than 30 percent of the hospitalizations and 16.5 percent of the deaths.
The new PSA addresses these concerns with a focus on educating the public “on yet another aspect of healthcare disparities that affect the African American population.”
You can watch the PSA in the player at the top of this story and read their full message below:
“As doctors, we know African Americans are more likely to acquire and die from complications of the COVID-19 virus. Why? Because people of color suffer from higher rates of chronic medical conditions like diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease and asthma. All of these lower our immune system and the ability to fight off viruses. Being an essential worker, and even using public transportation increase the risk of getting COVID-19. But we can better protect ourselves and others from the virus. Washing your hands, not touching your face, wearing a mask in public, social distancing, eating better, exercising, getting more sleep and visiting a primary care provider for health checks will all make a difference.”
Anybody with questions is asked to call 1-800-4-ASK-ODH or visit ClevelandClinic.org/COVID19.
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