At an October 18 meeting, the Board of Health passed a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis.
The resolution asks the Health Department to “expand its anti-racism work and requires it to create priorities for a racially just recovery from COVID-19.”
It also includes other requirements to address this ‘crisis’ in the short and long term.
“To build a healthier New York City, we must confront racism as a public health crisis,” Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said. “The COVID-19 pandemic magnified inequities, leading to suffering disproportionately borne by communities of color in our City and across our nation. But these inequities are not inevitable. Today is an historic day for the country’s oldest Board of Health to officially recognize this crisis and demand action.”
“We must confront racism as a public health crisis. This pandemic magnified inequities, leading to suffering disproportionately borne by communities of color. But these inequities are not inevitable,” New York City Health Commissioner Dave Chokshi said on Twitter.
The resolution goes into effect immediately. Read it here.
