COVID in Context seeks to make the invisible, visible by documenting how structural racism contributes to racial inequities in COVID-19 and shapes the lived experiences of individuals and communities most harmed by racism.
Through a series of virtual community and individual conversations, we asked residents living and working in West and North Philadelphia to reflect on the pandemic, its impact, and a more equitable and just way forward.
Ultimately, our work will inform and transform the collective narrative around racial inequities in COVID-19 in Philadelphia and mobilize data for action to repair harms of racism during the pandemic and beyond.
Early in the pandemic, (March through mid-May), rates of COVID-19 in the most racially segregated neighborhoods in Philadelphia were double the rate of the least segregated neighborhoods. While inequities in cases have declined over time, inequities in deaths from COVID-19 are striking, with a 70% higher death rate in the most segregated neighborhoods compared to the least segregated neighborhoods as of January 2021.