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State Health Commissioner Kris Box says the state health department is trying to fill out race and ethnicity data on COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Lauren Chapman/IPB NewsThe Indiana State Department of Health broke down COVID-19 cases and deaths by race and ethnicity.
While black Hoosiers only comprise 9 percent of the state’s population, they account for 19 percent of deaths and 18 percent of cases.
But, State Health Commissioner Kris Box says, while the data follows the national trend, it is incomplete.
"We’re doing things like going back through public health data. We’re looking at our birth and death registry data to try cross-match this – even through Medicaid to see if we can get some of that information and make that more complete," Box says.
Box says data expected soon from hospitals will be more comprehensive.
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Gov. Eric Holcomb says that is essential.
"The more that we know, the more that– that informs us on how to address this issue. Whether it be disparity or inequity," Holcomb says.
Nearly 60 percent of cases and nearly 40 percent of deaths are missing demographic data.
Contact Lauren at lchapman@wfyi.org or follow her on Twitter at @laurenechapman_.
This is a rapidly evolving story, and we are working hard to bring you the most up-to-date information. However, we recommend checking the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Indiana State Department of Health for the most recent numbers of COVID-19 cases.
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