COVID-19 morbidity in an ethnic minority: changes during the first year of the pandemic

Abstract

Objectives During the COVID-19 pandemic, ethnic minorities have been more susceptible to infection and demonstrated poorer outcomes. This study describes COVID-19 morbidity and mortality by ethnic group, represented by Arab and Jewish localities in Israel, during the different waves of the outbreak and addresses sociocultural aspects of the pandemic. Study design A retrospective national archive study was conducted in Israel. Methods Data were obtained from the Ministry of Health's database, including daily information on Arab, Jewish or mixed localities, from February 2020 to February 2021. Results During the first wave of the pandemic, the incidence of COVID-19 in Arab compared with Jewish localities was 67% lower and mortality was 85% lower, in addition to lower rates of severe disease requiring hospitalisation. During the second and third waves, these trends reversed, with the proportion of positive tests, incidence and mortality in Arab localities reaching and then surpassing rates in Jewish localities. By September 2020, COVID-19 mortality was twice as high in Arab compared with Jewish localities. Conclusions After low morbidity during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a surge in infections occurred in the Arab population during subsequent waves, to match and surpass the high incidence seen in the Jewish population. This unique pattern highlights the changing experiences of a minority group as the pandemic progressed and demonstrates how COVID-19 exacerbates existing disparities.

The Association between the Sense of Coherence and the Self-Reported Adherence to Guidelines during the First Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel

“…Further, if women are more responsible for grocery shopping than men, as is the case in the United States but has not been measured in Israel [45], they may be less likely to fully adhere to the social-distancing guidelines. Our finding that Jews were more likely to adhere to the guidelines is supported by previous studies that showed a greater toll of the pandemic in the Arabic population of Israel than in the country's Jewish residents [46]. This outcome has been attributed to a myriad of factors, including their lower socio-economic status and education, lower than average trust in the government, unequal distribution of resources within the Israeli society, societal traditions and religious customs, and difficulty in maintaining health behaviors after the initial success of the first lockdown in Israel [46].…”

COVID-19 therapy and vaccination: a clinical narrative review

“… 2 During the initial waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, ethnic minorities were more susceptible to infection and demonstrated poorer outcomes in terms of morbidity and mortality due to sociocultural aspects of the pandemic; however, this observation was abolished in the later waves. 4 The large global outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 has seriously endangered healthcare systems worldwide. The sudden surge of SARS-CoV-2 has revealed the shortage of critical care medicine resources and intensivists.…”

Changes in Quality of Life Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Jewish and Arab Populations in Israel: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Literature about health disparities in Israel includes assessments during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and supports several of the aforementioned theories, as we describe henceforth. Arabs living in Israel were found to have higher excess mortality than Jews, which have been linked to adverse health behaviours and health conditions that are more prominent in the Arab population [ 31 ]. These adverse health behaviours include smoking, physical inactivity, and a high fat and refined cereal diet [ 32 ], leading to higher risks of, e.g., diabetes and obesity [ 33 ] and vulnerability for severe COVID-19.…”