Social Issues

People with disabilities fear pandemic will worsen medical biases
As medical providers prepare for the possibility that they may have to ration care, many people with disabilities fear they will get lesser treatment.
State officials expect virus to take greater toll on racial minorities
COVID-19 is more deadly for African Americans than it is for whites, according to early data from several states and major metropolitan areas. So far, Minnesota has not detected racial differences in deaths from the virus. But given the state’s well-documented disparities in health and access to health care, experts suspect the pandemic will hurt people of color the most.
 Immigrant families face complex challenges with Minnesota’s distance learning
Many immigrant and refugee families are navigating distance learning while trying to find the right support needed to succeed online. Some have limited English proficiency, no formal education or internet access, and even lack the understanding of how to work on a computer.
Racial slurs and swastikas fuel civil rights pressure on Zoom
Civil rights groups warn that white nationalists and others are using the video-meeting platform Zoom to target people based on their race, sexuality and religion.
Attorney: Many ICE detainees at high risk from COVID-19
More than five dozen men held at Sherburne County jail for civil immigration matters want to be released to avoid contracting the novel coronavirus.
In Minnesota, thousands of families are trying to adapt to new economic conditions and fears about access to economic and medical aid – in some cases with limited English proficiency. MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Ruby Lee and Bo Thao-Urabe for more on the situation faced by immigrant communities around the state.