Lack of access to health care, underlying health conditions, and income inequalities have been known to plague communities of color, but with the coronavirus pandemic, it’s bringing those issues front and center.

Dr. Alice Green from the Center for Law and Justice in Albany says startling statistics across the country are now putting healthcare inequalities in perspective.

“People have always had a problem talking about racial disparity and racism, now I think this situation has allowed some people to understand it just a little bit better,” said Dr. Green.

In the city and state of New York, Black and Hispanic coronavirus related deaths top the list. Governor Andrew Cuomo says he’s calling for more testing sites in communities of color, to not only find out why, but how to fix it. He’s commissioned the college of UAlbany as one of the institutions to lead the way on data collection.

Dr. David Holtgrave is the Dean of UAlbany's school of public health. He spent 30 years of his career studying the HIV crisis and says the disparities were facing now haven’t really changed. But, technology has.

“When we look at the new testing technologies like drive-through testing and rapid testing ... we have to make sure we are collecting data so we can document and act on the disparities,” said Dr. Holtgrave. “We’ve got to make sure we’re providing services in those communities in an intensity that matches the burdens of disease.”

One thing they say is for sure, the higher rates of death among communities of color go deeper than COVID-19.

“We’re really going to have to do longer-term social change work to really address the root causes,” said Dr. Holtgrave.

The Center for Law and Justice is providing info and assistance for people looking to navigate the health care system or locate a health care provider, which are some of the steps you’ll need to take in order to get tested. You can find out more by visiting here.