Racism declared a New York City public health crisis

The New York City Board of Health has declared racism a public health crisis and issued guidelines to achieve a more “racially just” recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“To build a healthier New York City, we must confront racism as a public health crisis,” according to a statement from Dr. David A. Chokshi, who serves as the board chairperson and is the commissioner of the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. “The Covid-19 pandemic magnified inequalities, leading to suffering disproportionally borne by communities of color in our City and across the nation.”

The health inequalities along racial lines are not inevitable, and the resolution, which the board adopted Monday, was meant to recognize “this crisis and demand action,” Chokshi said.

The board also offered recommendations for the health department.

They include reviewing how policies have contributed to racial health inequities, making suggestions to the city’s Racial Justice Commission and forming a “data for equity” group to ensure that the department interprets health data through an anti-racism perspective. Other recommendations include working with agencies to report deaths and health conditions by race and issuing a progress report to the board about the resolution twice a year.