Health Equity and COVID-19

Racial and socioeconomic inequities in rates of COVID-19 infection, hospitalization and mortality have been identified in Canada and internationally.

Social determinants of health (SDOH), such as gender, socioeconomic position, race/ethnicity, occupation, Indigeneity, homelessness and incarceration, are factors that potentially increase risk and severity of COVID-19 infection. Incorporating SDOH into risk considerations and assessments is crucial for supporting an equitable COVID-19 response.

Training

Take our health equity impact assessment course to understand how to measure the impact of SDOH in your community and learn how to use the tool.

Reports and Reviews

The reports below offer insight into how various populations have been impacted by COVID-19. These can help support decision making and program development to improve health equity. Please visit Coronavirus Synopsis of Key Articles to find detailed reviews on how COVID-19 inequities have manifested in other jurisdictions.

Data Collection

Socio-demographic data can now be collected and entered into Ontario’s data system. We offer training, discuss health unit experiences and answer questions on how to effectively collect race, income, household size, and language information from individuals.