Manitoba government statistics released March 1 show COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on BIPOC groups in the province.
Manitoba released new provincial data showing COVID-19’s effects on racialized communities, showing a stark contrast between different demographic groups.
The new data and report, which covers data from May 1-Dec. 31, shows that people considered to be “white” by the provincial government - about 64 per cent of Manitoba’s population - made up less than half of the province’s total COVID-19 case load during the six months observed in the report.
Meanwhile, cases in several ethnic groups, including people indentified by the province as being of Filipino, Indigenous, South Asian and African descent, each saw higher than expected cases of COVID-19. For example, while Indigenous people make up 13 per cent of Manitoba’s population, about 17 per cent of people who tested positive for COVID-19 between May 1-Dec. 31 were Indigenous. The data reported does not include cases reported after Jan. 1, 2021, which saw cases spike in the NHR, including in several majority Indigenous communities.
“Manitoba’s data shows a similar pattern as other jurisdictions have reported with African, Filipino, Latin American, North American Indigenous and South Asian communities disproportionately affected,” reads a provincial news release announcing the release of the data.
A driving force for the change is likely due to different socioeconomic factors experienced by people in different racial groups across Manitoba.
“It is important to note that it is not race, ethnicity or Indigeneity that may increase the risk of COVID-19 infection. During challenging societal times, pre-existing inequities tend to be intensified, such as those in income, housing, education and employment opportunity,” reads the report.
“This creates an unequal playing field in terms of how people experience and are affected by the spread of COVID-19. Data from around the world has shown that Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) are overrepresented in COVID-19 infections.”
Data about the race and demographics of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 was recorded in about two-thirds of case investigations, according to the report.
