Immigrants and refugees in Ontario are the most impacted by COVID-19
According to a new report by ICES, a research institute focusing on health issues in Ontario, immigrants and refugees accounted for about 43.5% of COVID-19 cases in the province in the first half of 2020. These groups comprise only a quarter of the total Ontario population. Immigrants and refugees who worked in healthcare, especially women, accounted for a disproportionate number of cases. In Toronto specifically, 4,027 immigrants and refugees have tested positive for COVID-19 (9.8% of those tested) compared to 3,788 Canadian-born patients (4.9% of those tested). The authors also recommend the creation of mobile testing units that can target at-risk communities.
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