Joe Biden’s campaign on Friday criticized the “stunning” racial disparity of coronavirus patients in Georgia, saying the disproportionate number of African-Americans hospitalized by the disease highlights stubborn inequalities he’ll address if he defeats President Donald Trump.
A Biden deputy highlighted a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found more than 80% of patients with COVID-19 in eight Georgia hospitals were black. That's more than researchers expected, given that African-Americans make up about one-third of the state's population.
The aide, deputy campaign manager Kate Bedingfield, said the pandemic has shined light on deep-seated societal issues, such as the lack of paid sick leave and the need for a higher minimum wage and more affordable healthcare.
“These statistics only highlight how urgent it is to protect those who are filling essential roles in the midst of this crisis with oversight and enforcement of safe working conditions and premium pay for essential workers,” said Bedingfield.
She renewed the campaign’s call for the Atlanta-based CDC to release more data on how the virus is affecting communities “not just by age but income and race as well. Only then can we focus resources on where help is needed now.”
The presumptive Democratic nominee has tried to make the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic a central part of his campaign, as he tries to draw a contrast with a Republican opponent he’s accused of having a “temper tantrum” as Americans die.
Trump and his allies describe their response as an unprecedented government-wide effort that has saved thousands of lives, and the president's campaign has recently blasted Biden over an accusation he sexually assaulted a former aide. He denied the allegations earlier Friday.
Paris Dennard of the Republican National Committee accused Biden of trying to “score political points while people are suffering, dying and out of work” because of the pandemic.
“Instead of trying to find ways to work across the aisle like President Trump and the Trump Administration in a crisis they continue to lead from behind on this issue,” Dennard said.
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC
Democrats aim to flip Georgia for the first time in a presidential contest since Bill Clinton carried the state in 1992, and Republicans are increasingly wary of losing ground in the state after razor-thin midterm elections.
An internal Republican poll obtained Friday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed Biden and Trump deadlocked in a statistical tie, and that voters generally aren't giving Republican leaders high marks for the coronavirus response.
The CDC study was published shortly after Gov. Brian Kemp loosened economic restrictions imposed in early April to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and his decision to lift the limits was staunchly opposed by Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and other Democratic leaders.
The state's public health department reports that roughly 36% of Georgia's confirmed coronavirus patients are African-American, though there are gaps in the data. Racial data for about one-quarter of the cases are listed as unknown or missing, in part because some test sites didn't initially collect it.
In the statement, Bedingfield said the CDC study underscores how the disease is affecting communities of color more “harshly” than others – and presses the case to make treatment and testing cost-free.
“From the onset, a lack of testing has been the cornerstone of the Trump Administration’s botched COVID-19 response, and unfortunately this continues to be the case. There needs to be a surge in testing, especially to the vulnerable communities being affected the worst by the pandemic.”
Here’s Bedingfield’s full statement:
“The recent hospitalization statistics in Georgia reflect a racial disparity that, while stunning, is unfortunately not surprising. This pandemic is shining a light on the racial inequities that already exist in our society, including the lack of paid sick leave, the need for a minimum livable wage, and access to affordable health care. These statistics only highlight how urgent it is to protect those who are filling essential roles in the midst of this crisis with oversight and enforcement of safe working conditions and premium pay for essential workers.
“The reality across the country right now is that COVID-19 is affecting communities of color far more harshly than others. It’s unacceptable and we have to work to rip out the structural racism that has created this disparity. The carnage COVID-19 continues to wreak on communities with the fewest resources underscores the need to make treatment and testing cost-free. From the onset, a lack of testing has been the cornerstone of the Trump Administration’s botched COVID-19 response, and unfortunately this continues to be the case. There needs to be a surge in testing, especially to the vulnerable communities being affected the worst by the pandemic.
“For months Vice President Biden has been urging this administration to lead with science and follow the data and it’s why he, along with many others, has called on the CDC and other agencies to release more data on how COVID-19 is hurting our communities, not just by age but income and race as well. Only then can we focus resources on where help is needed now.”
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