As we get into 2025, the COVID-19 pandemic may feel like a distant memory to some. Still, its effects continue to ripple through communities, especially here in Houston and within the Black community. While the immediate crisis has passed, COVID-19 remains a public health concern that warrants attention.
More than 20 million are believed to have died from COVID. The World Health Organization has said member countries reported more than 7 million deaths from COVID-19 but the true death toll is estimated to be at least three times higher.
“We cannot talk about COVID in the past, since it’s still with us,” WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
Here are five reasons why we should still care about COVID-19.
1. Ongoing Disparities in Health Outcomes
COVID-19 revealed the stark health disparities that exist in the United States, and Houston’s Black community was disproportionately affected. According to data from the Harris County Public Health Department, Black residents experienced higher rates of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19. These outcomes were exacerbated by preexisting conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease—ailments that are more prevalent in Black communities due to systemic healthcare inequities…