By Canadian Press

Demographic data ‘essential’ to track impacts of COVID-19: researchers

Apr 8, 2020 | 2:01 PM

OTTAWA — Researchers are calling for more detailed data on who is getting and dying from COVID-19, to find out if specific minority or socioeconomic groups are unduly impacted.

The United States, for example, has found that black Americans are disproportionately affected by the respiratory illness in some states.

But it’s not possible to know whether the same is happening in Canada because that data isn’t yet available.

The federal government is tracking the gender and ages of confirmed cases of COVID-19 across the country.

Katherine Scott, a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, says without more details it is difficult for governments to craft policies that could protect and support those most affected.  

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She says existing research has already established that poor and marginalized communities will likely suffer disproportionate impacts compared to others in Canada.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 8, 2020.

The Canadian Press