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Up To Date

Black People In Kansas And Missouri Are More Likely To Die From COVID-19 Than White People

By Steve Kraske,

Mackenzie Martin

Published June 1, 2020 at 3:16 PM CDT

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While COVID-19 death rates among the black population in Kansas and Missouri are lower than national rates, they are higher than those for other racial and ethnic groups.

APM Research Lab looked at racial disparities among COVID-19 deaths and found the disparities in Kansas and Missouri to be some of the worst in the country.

The health inequities that contribute to disparities in COVID-19 outcomes have been here a lot longer than the new coronavirus. Researcher Andi Egbert says, "if we had equity in Kansas and Missouri, 260 black lives wouldn't be lost today from the virus."

Andi Egbert, APM Research Lab senior researcher
Broderick Crawford, NBC Community Development Corporation president and part of a health equity task force in Wyandotte County, Kansas
Rev. Eric Williams, Calvary Temple Baptist Church pastor

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Up To Date Kansas City Missouri (KCMO)Kansas City Kansas (KCK)Racism Coronavirus health outcomes Talk Show African Americans health care public health Health

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Mackenzie Martin

Mackenzie Martin is a senior podcast producer at KCUR Studios and host of the podcast, A People's History of Kansas City. Contact her at mackenzie@kcur.org.

See stories by Mackenzie Martin

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