Milwaukee’s Coronavirus Racial Divide: A Report on the Early Stages of COVID-19 Spread in Milwaukee County
Like many other densely populated urban areas, Milwaukee is experiencing a surge of reported COVID-19 cases. On March 12 there was only one confirmed case in Milwaukee County. By April 8 there were 1,425 confirmed cases and 67 deaths. Examining deaths and confirmed cases through April 8, this study finds that stark inequalities are emerging along racial and economic lines. Areas of the county that are predominantly African American are experiencing disproportionately high numbers of reported cases and concentrations of coronavirus clusters, while areas that are predominantly white and higher income are reporting fewer cases and very small numbers of virus clusters. Most important, African Americans who have contracted the virus are developing life-threatening complications at a rate much higher than whites.