Posted: 3/3/2021
COVID-19 pandemic affecting Hispanics at a high rate
It’s no secret, COVID-19 is infecting and taking the lives of Hispanics at a high rate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nationwide Hispanics who contract COVID-19 are hospitalized at 3.2 times the rate of whites. A potential cause? Many are employed in essential jobs and working remotely is not an option for them.
The experience of Hispanics in Dallas County mirrors that reported nationally. Of the more than 43,000 COVID-19 positive patients seen by Parkland Health & Hospital System, 66% are Hispanic. In addition, nearly 72% of deaths of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at Parkland have been Hispanic. Dallas County Health & Human Services reports the Hispanic community is leading the county with the most confirmed COVID-19 cases, more than 64,408 as of March 2, 2021.
Chris Escobedo, Phillips/May Corporation, Managing Director, and a member of the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association (RCHA), has seen the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on workers in the North Texas construction industry and he’s experienced it first-hand.
“My wife and I tested positive for COVID-19 the first week of November. I have diabetes and high blood pressure. We were lucky that I didn’t get it that bad,” said Escobedo.
To document what it was like fighting the virus, Escobedo kept track of his symptoms on his phone each day. It included chills, fatigue, loss of taste and smell. His response to where he could have been potentially exposed is like many, “I don’t know.” Escobedo says he and his wife always made sure to wear their mask, social distance, and wash their hands anytime they were out. One thing for sure, he doesn’t want to experience this ever again and that is why he decided to get the COVID-19 vaccine and hopes others will do the same.
“I want to be in the forefront of making sure that other people in the construction industry will take the vaccine. I believe in it and I think long term we need to adjust to it and accept it,” said Escobedo. “I think this is an important step all of us need to take in the Hispanic community. It’s important for our health, for our neighbors, and everybody in our industry. Our workforce is primarily Hispanic, and we must take care of each other. We work side by side near each other so we must be protected. Getting vaccinated is a step toward that.”
Sostenes Muñoz, also a member of RHCA and a construction worker, received his COVID-19 vaccine with Escobedo at Parkland Memorial Hospital on January 27. Muñoz admits to believing COVID-19 was a hoax at the beginning of the pandemic. It wasn’t until he lost family and friends to the virus that he realized how serious this virus is. He hasn’t contracted COVID-19 but knew the best way to protect himself from COVID-19 is by getting vaccinated.
“When I first heard of the vaccine, I wanted to register for it fast. I was afraid of catching COVID-19, especially since I have heart problems and diabetes,” said Muñoz. “The only side effect I got from the first dose was a sore arm. I had no side effects with the second dose. I feel great. I feel better than before. It might be because I feel protected and more secure.”
According to the CDC, potential sources of exposure include having close contact with a coworker or member of the public who is ill with COVID-19 and touching your nose, mouth, or eyes after touching surfaces contaminated with the virus or handling items that others infected with COVID-19 have touched. They recommend construction workers follow these steps to protect themselves and stop the spread.
• Notify your supervisor and stay home if you have symptoms.
• Notify your supervisor if you are well but have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.
• Limit close contact with others by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet, when possible.
• Cloth face coverings are NOT surgical masks or respirators and are not appropriate substitutes for them in workplaces where masks or respirators are recommended or required. Wear face masks approved by the CDC.
• Limit tool sharing if possible.
• Practice proper hand hygiene.
“The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe way to build protection and stop the spread of COVID-19. Even though wearing a mask and social distancing is still a must, the vaccine will work with your immune system so it will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed,” said Arlene Betancourt, MD, Medical Director for Employee Health Integration at Parkland. “The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are proven to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. We encourage the Hispanic community to register for the vaccine as soon as it’s available to them.”
Escobedo and Muñoz hope others in the construction industry will follow their lead and get vaccinated.
“My arm was a little sore for a couple of days after the first dose and experienced slight body chills and arm soreness with my second dose but now I feel good,” said Escobedo. “I think this is an important step all of us need to take in the Hispanic community. Why risk your life when there are alternatives? Now that its available to us we need to take advantage.”
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.cdc.gov, www.parklandhospital.com/covid-19-vaccines or www.dallascounty.org/covid-19