Latinos Are Dying To COVID. Here’s How We Can Help.

Latinos are dying at a much higher rate to COVID-19. 

34% of San Diego county are Latinx, yet they make up 61% of infections and 45% of the deaths. 

So what can we do? It’s a tough, complicated question, but that's why it's so important we ask it—and we are doing something about it! 

How do we make sure lifesaving, trusted information reaches those who need it most? How can we care for our neighbors in a pandemic? 

We build and leverage community trust.  

This community has spent nearly four decades building trust through local work and friendship, and that trust is a powerful tool to serve and support people in times of crisis. It’s why the County has asked us to help! 

The woman in this photo is Miriam, a powerhouse of neighborhood advocacy and a promotora in her community. As a promotora, Miriam serves as a trusted community health worker, networking and making sure her neighbors have the access they need to health services in the area. 

On a national scale, the mistrust among Latino communities (and especially among undocumented people) has grown in recent years, and that affects Latinx people’s ability to trust services available to them. Imagine coming to a clinic for help and instead being arrested and taken from your children, not knowing what might happen to them or yourself. The unfair, armchair mischaracterizations of these communities contribute to the divide, but we believe promotoras like Miriam are a key part of building trust and making sure lives are saved. 

We are excited to join the San Diego Latino Health Coalition at the first COVID-19 Virtual Community Education Session in Spanish on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 5 to 6 p.m. Join San Ysidro Health to learn more about important COVID-19 information and how to keep your family and yourself safe. Register here:

If you need help registering, contact Miriam via phone or WhatsApp: 619.804.8410 or email her at sdmperez@outlook.com . 

An English Community Education Session will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 5 to 6 p.m. 

The San Diego Latino Health Coalition is funded by the County of San Diego in support of the Live Well San Diego vision.