Why Latinos Are So Hard Hit By The Pandemic

Sonali Kolhatkar speaks with Gustavo Arellano about why Latinos are so hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

There was a time when the so-called “Latino paradox” as referred to in health care circles was an admirable community trait – a nearly 3-year advantage over whites in life expectancy rates, largely attributed to close family networks and other cultural hallmarks. Today, much of that life expectancy edge has all but vanished as the coronavirus pandemic rages through Latino communities, particularly in California, the new epicenter of the pandemic.

Gustavo Arellano, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. He previously worked at OC Weekly, where he was an investigative reporter for 15 years and the paper’s editor for six. At the paper he also wrote a column called ¡Ask a Mexican! Which catapulted him to national fame. His books include “Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America.”

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