COVID-19: Inequality Under the Microscope

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a painful indicator of the pre-existing socio-economic marginalization against Indigenous peoples and minority ethnic and religious groups. Indigenous and minority communities have historically faced impediments to their access to the formal economy, social services, and political decision-making. During the pandemic, they have been less likely to receive COVID-19 tests, PPE, ventilators, medications, and more recently vaccines, which directly indicates the comparatively high number of deaths among these populations. The lack of support for Indigenous and minority populations is rooted in the fact that many of these communities lack social and political visibility, which impedes their access to public services and economic compensation packages during the pandemic. Policymakers must therefore address these historical issues of discrimination in order to provide relief for Indigenous and minority communities that have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.