A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report says Hispanic and non-white people in Utah were disproportionately hit by workplace COVID-19 outbreaks.
From March to early June, 12% of the state’s coronavirus cases were tied to workplace outbreaks, mostly in manufacturing, construction and wholesale trade. The report found that 73% of the cases in these outbreaks were Hispanic or other non-white people, even though they only make up 24% of the workers in those industries. A lack of flexibility along with unpaid sick leave policies may prevent workers from staying home when they’re ill, resulting in more workplace exposures and increased virus spread.