Data shows that the coronavirus is spreading through Detroit faster than nearly any other city in America. The city has one of the highest infection rates overall, coming in 4th after New York and New Orleans, and California. Michigan came in close behind California, despite California having 4 times the population of Michigan. Additionally, despite its high number of cases Michigan is drastically behind in testing nationwide. Nearly a third of all Michigan’s cases are from Detroit despite the city making up less than 10% of the population.
One of the biggest contributors to large numbers of CoVID-19 is poverty as well as pre-existing and/or underlying health issues. Detroit, in particular, is more susceptible to CoVID-19 because its residents are generally less healthy. In 2017 Michigan was spending $12.92 per capita on public health care, and Michigan ranks 43rd on public health funding.
The city is full of people who are poor and marginalized. It’s the densest part of Michigan, and Detroiters in general are less healthy,”
-Dr. Abdul El-Syed
In addition to having an abundance of people with pre-existing health conditions, Detroit has earned itself the title of the “Poorest Big city in the nation” with 1 in 3 residents living in poverty. Despite seeing growth in salary for the last two years the number of people in poverty has not changed, and as of January Detroit’s unemployment was double the state’s average at 8.8%. In the midst of the pandemic, unemployment has skyrocketed, due to business closures and the fact than an estimated 25% of Detroit’s workers work in the service industry. More than 100,000 people filed for unemployment last week, a 2000% increase from previous weeks.
Last reported Michigan was performing around 2,000 tests per day, however, medical professionals have reported that testing could slow down due to lack of supplies. Currently, many hospitals are at capacity with cases only expected to grow. Hospitals are short on medical supplies and medical staff. Recreation centers that were previously closed for public safety have re-opened to provide food for children who rely on free meals from school, while other rec centers are temporarily acting as homeless shelters.
Amid the crisis, Detroit is ramping up efforts to provide essentials. Three of Detroit’s 11 recreation centers, which are otherwise closed until at least April 13, are repurposed to provide breakfast and lunch for children on weekdays.”
Coronavirus spreading faster in Detroit than nearly anywhere in the United States
Additionally, the TCF center, one of Detroit’s largest convention halls, is in the process of being turned into a 900-bed hospital. The most recent measure taken to prevent the spread of CoVID-19 was the Governor’s stay at home executive order enacted on March 24th. Michigan, however, has yet to flatten the curve.