Vancouver committee pushing province to collect race-based COVID-19 data

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Hoping to better grasp the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on marginalized communities, one City of Vancouver advisory committee is pushing for the necessary next steps.

The Racial and Ethno-Cultural Equity Advisory Committee is joining a call that has gone out not just in B.C., but across the country, stating that the collection of data on how hard the pandemic has hit people of colour, is of utmost importance.

“This is really raising the flag about the need for this data, and the fact that it would quantify, I think, what a lot of people are anticipating, and help to make data-based decisions moving forward in the future,” says Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, who is the council liaison to the committee.

NEWS Release from @CityofVancouver #racialequity Committee advocating for collection race-based health data collection in BC. As their Council liaison, I support this call to aid in quantifying inequity in time of Covid-19 & beyond & provide foundation for data-based decisions. pic.twitter.com/J3If1FibMf

— Sarah Kirby-Yung (@sarahkirby_yung) June 9, 2020

“I think there’s been a recognition that oftentimes people of diverse cultural backgrounds may be more on the frontlines and therefore may have more exposure to COVID. That’s in addition to other factors –whether they may be more frequent transit users or inequities in terms of shelter access.” Kirby-Yung said.

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While much of this information is tracked anecdotally, the group has found that all of these things can have an effect on living space and whether or not someone has been able to properly self-isolate or quarantine over the last few months.

The committee wants to ensure that any data compiled contributes towards a culturally safe health care system.