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for Adams County Latinos
With COVID-19 impact heavy on community, information as crucial as help BY LIAM ADAMS LADAMS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As the impacts of COVID-19 fall disproportionately on Adams County’s Latino residents, community advocates and leaders are calling for better information that can be shared with residents. “The way I describe COVID and what it did to our communities is when you’re at the beach and the tide brings in the water and it takes it back out. It exposed all the shells and the rocks. COVID did that, where you see the social issues that are kind of buried,” said Maria Zubia, director of community outreach at Kids First Health Care. Since March, more than 14,500 Hispanic and Latino people in Adams County have tested positive for COVID-19, according to TriCounty Health Department. That represents 48 percent of all cases in the county, even though 41% of the county identifies as Hispanic and Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. White residents account for 11 percent of cases in the county, and Black and Asian residents both represent about 1 percent of cases, according to Tri-County. Thirtyseven percent of residents didn’t disclose demographic information for COVID-19 tests. The virus’s disproportionate spread yields disproportionate effects, Zubia said. There are many uninsured Latino residents in the county who are unable to receive adequate healthcare. Community members are hoping
Maria Zubia, director of community outreach at Kids First Health Care. Zubia runs the “Community Resource Network” Facebook page, which features “community navigators” who post information about subjects that the navigator is an expert in. COURTESY PHOTO
for more resources to be available for Latino people. However, with a present scarcity of resources, and a pending reduction in federally funded programs, leaders say communication is all the more crucial for tens of thousands of people needing assistance. The financial weight is equally heavy, described Maria Gonzalez, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Adelante Community Development. Adelante is working with people who have permanently closed small businesses they owned, as well as undocumented people who aren’t eligible for government services. The community leaders said more resources are needed but they recognize that won’t change overnight. SEE LATINOS, P2
Brighton City Manager Jane Bais-DiSessa addresses residents watching a video livestream of the Christmas tree lighting ceremony Dec. 2. COURTESY OF CITY OF BRIGHTON