Toronto’s plan to combat impact of COVID-19 in black communities may be too little too late

BY PAUL JUNOR

On Wednesday, February 3^rd, 2021 there was an announcement made by Mayor John Tory in a virtual news conference that the black communities will receive funding to deal with the impact of COVID-19.

The City of Toronto has agreed to provide $ 6.8 million to help twelve black community health agencies deal with the disproportionate impact of COVID-19. Mayor Tory states, “What is clear during the pandemic is that there are extraordinary impacts that COVID-19 has had on a number of communities within our city including the black community.”

It is hoped that the creation of the City of Toronto’s Black Community COVID Response Plan is intended, “to help reduce the number of COVID-19 cases and effectively address the issues around vaccine trust and confidence within black communities.” as reported in the news release on Wednesday, February 3^rd, 2021 by the City of Toronto on its website (toronto.ca/news).

This plan was developed in December 2020 to “Provide enhanced support for black Torontonians as Part of the TO Supports: Targeted Equity Action Plan and in response to data released in late 2020.”

Numbers released by the Toronto Ethno-Racial Group COVID-19 data (up to November, 2020) indicate that while black make up 9% of the city’s population, they account for between 16% to 33% of the COVID-19 cases and 24% of the current COVID-19 hospitalizations.

According to the City’s website,” TO Support Investment Fund was created to invest in strategic partnership with social service agencies to address urgent needs of vulnerable Toronto residents. It has allocated almost $3.6 million to approximately thirty-seven black agencies in Toronto to provide mental health assistance, access to food programs and increase social interactions for black Torontonians. $6.8 million will be invested in twelve community agencies to ensure that ten specified communities, which have a high proportion of African-Canadians and the highest COVID-19 positive case rate receive support. These supports include:

• Increases in culturally responsive mental health supports, food access provisions for black mandated organizations, mobile and community based testing, mobile services to support seniors and people with disabilities (such as food delivery or wellness check)
• A commitment to continue to advocating for income support and housing security
• Coordinate health policies, programs and provisions targeted to black communities

The creation of the Black Scientists Task Force on Vaccine Equity has, “The overarching goal of reducing the immediate risk of disease transmission and hospitalization. It consists of experts who are involved in important aspects of vaccine development and public health.” It will “review the major concerns around COVID-19 testing, levels of vaccine acceptance, and develop health recommendations to effectively address this within the black community.”  It is hoped that by April 30^th, 2021 it will finalize a report with recommendations to the City.

An article published in The Globe and Mail on July 30^th, 2020 revealed that 83% of COVID- 19 cases in Toronto were among racialized people from May-July 2020. The highest rate was 21% among black people, which was six times that of white people. Dr Eileen de Villa states, “We need to focus on the social determinants of health, like affordable housing opportunities, access to employment and income supports, educational opportunities, and yes, we need to address systemic racism “

TPH reported that two major risk factors of COVID-19 are; having low income and living in crowded spaces. 27% of cases were in households with five or more, and 51% were in low-income households.

It is unfortunate that it has taken the City of Toronto so long to respond. We are in the second wave of the pandemic and things may get worse before it gets better. The black community deserves better. Time is critical to address and deal with these health and economic disparities.