The South Asian community I am part of has a number of overlapping risk factors that increases the risk of both acquisition of COVID and also at risk for having a more severe outcome 1/
First many work in ESSENTIAL, public-facing jobs (including in health care) as well as crowded workplaces where it is difficult to physically distance (e.g. factories, food processing plants etc.) 2/
We are more likely to live in a multigenerational home (especially in the hotspots across Canada and the world), with an average of 6-8 people. This is a prime situation for amplification of a single infection brought in to the household. 3/
South Asian events, like many other cultural events, involve large indoor gatherings (often with singing) in private homes. Wedding festivities have been associated with multiple superspreader events across Canada. 4/
Many, especially new immigrants, are financially unstable and depend on their jobs. There is a reluctance to test for COVID with minor symptoms because it could mean time off work and loss of income, so they continue to go to work. Combine this with 2, 3 & 4. 5/
Interestingly, lockdowns (which may be necessary in the near future) won't directly deal with many of the above factors as essential businesses stay open! 6/
Interventions we propose address this situation involve community outreach, engaging leaders and communicating with people who are affected to speak to hard to reach groups directly in multiple languages (need to dust off my Bengali skillz). 7/
Addressing the problem is important as many health issues present at higher rates in the South Asian community (diabetes, obesity, hypertension, coronary artery disease) are risk factors for severe COVID. 8/
Addressing the problem will also help the general community at large given how South Asians are such a significant part of our beautifully intertwined Canadian society. 9/
Great article from Omni News @apmckay (thanks for this) about the exact same topic. Check it: omnitv.ca/on/en/as-covid…

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
 

Keep Current with Sumon Chakrabarti

Sumon Chakrabarti Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @TorontoIDDoc

23 Sep
COVID increasing significantly across Canada, a couple of notes:

1. Need intervention now: likely be seeing significant regional restrictions soon.

2. Young people make up large # cases not just because partying. School, wider social networks, work in service industry 1/
3. Testing needs to be stratified, prioritization of those with new sx and high risk exposures etc.

4. Comms experts to target pop'n 20-39--can't rely on docs to do this @BogochIsaac

5. Don't compare daily numbers to earlier. 400 cases in May was likely more like 2000 2/
6. Recognize long-term impact shutting down business: not a health/economy dichotomy. Two are intertwined

7. Vaccine won't be silver bullet. Pandemic likely to continue well in 2021 @zchagla

8. Deaths/hospitalizations late marker of pandemic. If seen, you missed the boat 3/
Read 6 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!


This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Too expensive? Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal Become our Patreon

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!