Five years after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, the effects of the virus continue to be felt across Michigan, especially within African American communities. A study, led by Dr. Nancy Fleischer, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, provides a closer look at the pandemic’s long-lasting impact. 

The Michigan COVID-19 Recovery Surveillance Study (MI CReSS), a collaboration with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), aims to understand the experiences of Michigan residents during the pandemic and identify health disparities. 

Researchers are examining how COVID-19 impacted individuals’ health and economic well-being, with an emphasis on racial and ethnic inequities. Data Report 9 findings from 2024 show that Black adults faced more severe challenges than their White counterparts.

More than 50% of Black adults who sought care for COVID-19 only went to the emergency room, compared to 33% of White adults. Additionally, Black adults were more likely to be hospitalized and report severe symptoms of COVID-19 than other racial and ethnic groups.  The study also found that one in three Black adults with COVID-19 were unable to pay essential bills during the pandemic. 

Host Stephen Henderson talks with Fleischer about the disparities related to COVID-19 in the African American community. Plus, she offers her thoughts on what’s needed to deal with future public health emergencies.