Amid an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases, officials in Detroit are urging residents to get vaccinated.
So far, less than a quarter of the city has received the inoculations, holding one of the lowest rates in the metropolitan area. Representatives from the city’s health department say every day, about 700 more people are testing positive for coronavirus in Detroit. The number of patients hospitalized, admitted into intensive care, and put on ventilators has also increased. Detroit public health director Denise Fair says there is a racial disparity at play.
“Black and brown communities are two to three times more likely to get Covid and to die from it. And I can speak as a Black woman that there has been and continues to be mistrust in our community.”
Fair says the city is increasing educational outreach to curb vaccine hesitancy. City officials say there are two dozen sites around the city that will offer walk-in vaccination appointments next week.