BEAUMONT, Texas — While many people are celebrating the beginning of Texas' reopening on Friday some health experts worry that the decision could have deadly consequences especially for minorities.
For several weeks 12News has been pushing Southeast Texas health officials to release more information about those impacted by COVID-19 and today we, finally got some answers.
As Texas prepares to reopen on Friday some concerns are starting to increase.
“Until we test majority of the people, how can you open a movie theater, asks Lashon Proctor
Proctor has seen people he loves fall victim to the coronavirus far too often as a funeral director.
"I tell everyone, if you're okay and you have it are you willing to take it home to your elderly grandmother to your elderly parents. Are you willing to take that chance,” he asks.
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that there is a disproportionate number of minorities who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
"The disease is known even prior to getting here for disproportionately affecting African Americans and that's because of underlying conditions that African Americans tend to have,” said Beaumont Public Health Director Sherry Ulmer
She says the majority of their cases are minorities.
“We do see that happening here, we were aware that had happened nationwide before we started with case here and we're seeing the same trend here,” Ulmer said.
Out of a sample of 232 cases in Beaumont, 50% of those sick are black and 17% are Hispanics. African Americans accounted for 62% of COVID-19 related deaths.
“I think all people should be careful across the board,” Ulmer said
The CDC has suggested that minorities, generally, have underlying health conditions and live in densely populated area making it easier for coronavirus to spread.
This is why why Proctor believes that African Americans have more to lose when the state reopens.
“For the lack of knowledge people perish and I think that's what we're going to see because of the lack of knowledge, lack of information. People are going to perish because they are not going to pay attention,” he said.
Jefferson County Public Health Director Dr. Cecil Walkes tells 12News he’s hopeful that other counties across Southeast Texas will release more information.