Wednesday, April 29. The Los Angeles City Mayor reported the latest news surrounding the coronavirus outbreak. The elected official acknowledged the rise in sexual violence on Denim Day; associated with that movement was the acknowledgement of growth within domestic violence cases. People are staying indoors and since then, there has been a rise in the act of domestic violence within the city. Mayor Garcetti shared the data surrounding the COVID-19 virus within the Los Angeles region. Eric Garcetti acknowledged this preexisting inequality that haunts underserved communities. These discrepancies have led to higher death rates within particular minority groups. The response presented is that the County of L.A. has ramped of testing capacity in high-density areas such as the Crenshaw Christian Center. However, the concern for future practices to close racial inequalities post pandemic continues to grow.
The Los Angeles City Mayor shared the latest update behind the COVID-19 outbreak in L.A. The elected Official shared as of Wednesday, April 29. there were 56 additional deaths. That accounts for a 6% increase since the report on April 28. This brings the total COVID-19 related deaths in the L.A. County to 1,056. The average death rate in a week has been 47 fatal cases per day. There were 597 new cases reported, bringing the total of positive COVID-19 reports to 22,485. There is a daily average of 886 new cases. Within the city of L.A., the new report reflects 8,541 COVID-19 cases.
Denim Day falls on Wednesday, April 29. to represent a movement in response to a ruling in the Italian Supreme Court; a rape conviction was overturned because the victim was wearing tight denim pants, she must have assisted the perpetrator remove her jeans, therefore proving the sexual act to be consensual. Today, Mayor Garcetti sported Denim Jeans to support the awareness of the movement; to reprimand those committing violating acts, regardless of what the victim is wearing. This opened the window of opportunity to acknowledge the raising number in domestic violence since the Safer at Home Order has been into play. L.A. County does supply resources to receive assistance, local domestic shelters remain open during this time.
Based on the L.A. Public Health reports, neighborhoods that experience poverty and working class Angelenos, face a higher rate in deaths due to COVID-19 than any other demographic. Coronavirus highlights neglect and lack of resources within underserved communities. However, the only defense listed is testing capacity, the mayor mentioned that it is the strongest tool against spreading the virus. While that may be true, the target issue is not being hit. The problem that is being noted, but not resolved, is the neglect living among those who fall under the poverty line. Eric Garcetti referenced the action plan the L.A. Board of Supervisors developed in a meeting that was held on Tuesday.
The L.A. Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, highlighting the recovery stages Los Angeles is entering after the COVID-19 outbreak. Item five on the agenda led by 2nd district supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas highlighted the “ethnic and hyperlocal community outreach recommendation.” Which is a beaker that the county is looking to engage with ethnic communities through local media. This is a progressive step towards new resources available to all minority communities.
However, Testing seems to be the primary solution to a preexisting condition within minority communities. There is needed clarity to explain how “ramping up testing capacity” is addressing the disease of disproportionate resources, that have plagued underserved communities, long before COVID-19 escalated the death rate within particular demographics. The antiquity in the neglect is acknowledged, but the solution based in testing capacity only addresses the tip of the deeply rooted issue; the lack of support and awareness of people who do not have the means to have a stable livelihood, they now face a scarier reality of losing their life.
