HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2020.05.20 - 33250MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #20166 May 20, 2020
BY: Commissioner Janet Jackson, District #21
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS —CALLS FOR EQUITY IN COVID-19 TESTING, TREATMENT
AND PREVENTION
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS as the United States becomes the world's largest hot spot for COVID-19 cases and deaths,
testing, treating and tracking the disease are essential for mitigating loss of life and identifying trends; and
WHEREAS disease tracking, integrated with demographic, health and jobs data, reveals that in some
areas, specific groups may be disproportionately affected by the virus; and
WHEREAS like many other epidemics, COVID-19 has quickly turned into a disease that has the highest
and most devastating impact on the socially vulnerable; and
WHEREAS the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that several racial minority
groups account for a disproportionate number of the COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the United States;
and
WHEREAS nationwide, Hispanics make up 24.5% of COVID-19 cases while only accounting for 18% of
the population and African-Americans make up 30% of COVID-19 cases while only accounting for 13% of
the population; and
WHEREAS in Michigan, African-Americans, the largest affected minority group, make up approximately
40% of COVID-19 deaths in the state while only accounting for approximately 14% of its population; and
WHEREAS according to the Oakland County COVID-19 Percentage of Cases by ZIP Code website, the
most affected cities in the county are Oak Park, Southfield and Pontiac These are cities with large African -
American and Hispanic populations; and
WHEREAS many leading health experts point to underlying medical conditions, including heart disease,
diabetes, and asthma, as one explanation for why minority populations are seeing high rates of sickness
and death from COVID-19; and
WHEREAS the CDC website states: "For many people in racial and ethnic minority groups, living conditions
may contribute to underlying health conditions and make it difficult to follow steps to prevent getting sick
with COVID-19 or to seek treatment if they do get sick"; and
WHEREAS expanded, easily accessible, rapid testing and treatment would significantly improve outcomes
in under resourced communities, without increasing stigma and marginalization; and
WHEREAS COVID-19 has already highlighted the consequences of deep and systemic social disparities;
as such, an effective response must address both social justice and the development of a comprehensive
public health plan to mitigate the impact now and avert avoidable personal and societal crises in the future;
and
WHEREAS there is also a strong need to create culturally relevant communication strategies which are
needed to better connect and convey the message and prevent misinformation about the virus in minority
communities; and
WHEREAS it is imperative to collect comprehensive data to effectively monitor and track disparities among
racial and ethnic groups in terms of the number of COVID-19 cases, complications and deaths. Further,
this information must be shared broadly and inform decisions on how to effectively address observed
disparities; and
WHEREAS the CDC reports that, of the demographics collected on COVID-19 patients, approximately 50-
60% failed to specify the race and/or ethnicity of the patient; and
WHEREAS the failure to collect all demographic data, including race and ethnicity, could be attributed to
the lack of technology and medical staffing issues such as: low staffing levels, inadequate training and
heavy workloads and hours, which result in information simply not being collected and recorded; and
WHEREAS without consistent and accurate data, federal and state resources for testing, treatment and
prevention may not be allocated to the communities most severely affected by this pandemic; and
WHEREAS federal and state officials should mandate standardized collection and reporting of COVID-19
data, including race and ethnicity, to provide a clear national picture of the disproportionate impact COVID-
19 has on minority communities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners calls for equity
in COVID-19 testing, treatment and prevention and to collect accurate demographic data to ensure proper
allocation of necessary resources.
PANDEMIC RESPONSE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY COMMITTEE VOTE:
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Taub and Kuhn voting no and Miller absent.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners acknowledges and
supports Oakland County administration's tremendous efforts to expand testing in cities with large minority
populations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners understands that there is
also a strong need to address existing health disparities, such as poorer underlying health and barriers to
getting health care, for many racial and ethnic minority groups, which are especially vulnerable in public
health emergencies like the current outbreak of COVID-19.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners recognizes and applauds
Oakland County administration's efforts on expanding health care services to uninsured and underinsured
residents by implementing the Oakland Health 360 program. This important program is closing a major gap
in our county health system by addressing health disparities among our residents.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of this
resolution to the Governor of Michigan, the Lt. Governor of Michigan, the President of the United States,
the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
members of the Michigan congressional delegation, the State Senate Majority and Minority leaders, the
State House Speaker and Minority leader, members of the Oakland County State Legislature delegation
and the Michigan Association of Counties.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Co missioner Jfackson
District #21
Resolution #20166 May 20, 2020
Moved by Gershenson seconded by Jackson the resolution be adopted.
Discussion followed.
Moved by Gingell seconded by Kowall the resolution be amended as follows:
Strike out the following language in the 2nd BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
BE IT- FIJRTHEP,4E�IED that the Oakland County BoaFd of
Strike out the following language in the 3rd BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
: e
Discussion followed.
TL. v ;.—,lto#ant
Vote on amendment:
AYES: Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Gingell, Hoffman Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long, Middleton. (10)
NAYS: Nelson, Powell, Quarles, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Jackson, Luebs, Markham,
McGillivray, Miller. (11)
A sufficient majority not having voted in favor, the amendment failed.
Discussion followed.
Vote on resolution, as presented:
AYES: Powell, Quarles, Spisz, Taub, Weipert, Woodward, Zack, Gershenson, Gingell, Hoffman,
Jackson, Kochenderfer, Kowall, Kuhn, Long, Luebs, Markham, McGillivray, Middleton, Miller,
Nelson. (21)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the resolution, as presented, was adopted.
Moved by Hoffman seconded by Nelson to add all Commissioners as Co -Sponsors.
Discussion followed.
A sufficient majority having voted in favor, the motion to add all Commissioners as Co -Sponsors carried.
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true and
accurate copy of a resolution a pted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on May 20, 2020,
with th rig ��I��rec��ordppth e f w remaining in my office.
In Tes��(l�e�eof'I havd to set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at Pontiac,
Michigan this 201h..dau,nf, lynt pLUT1ON
1 HEREBY APf't 0�
CHIEF DEPUTY COUNTY EXECUTIVE
ACTING PURSUANT TO MCL 45.559A (7) Lisa Brown, Oakland County