Covid & Ethnicity in Oregon
Covid in Oregon seems to have disproportionately affected people of Hispanic heritage. Hispanic people make up the largest minority group in the state, but still only account for roughly 12% of the total population of majority-white Oregon. However, they account for nearly 37% of Covid cases.
One factor that could explain this discrepancy is the higher likelihood that Hispanics hold customer service jobs, or other jobs where they are not able to work remotely and must interface with people on a daily basis. Some of Oregon’s main industries include wineries, farms, and the Nike factory where many Hispanic people work. One story idea would be looking into those communities to see how Covid has affected them — perhaps at a specific winery or the Nike factory where many people work and have been infected.
Source ideas:
- People of Hispanic heritage who were infected with the virus in Oregon
- Owners/managers of employers in Oregon that employ mostly Hispanic staff
- Oregon Dept. of Health epidemiologists
Length: depending on sources and availability, 1000-1500 words