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4/23/2020
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Rep. Diaz urges members of Latino community who show symptoms of COVID-19 to get tested
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 STATE HOUSE — Concerned with the disproportionate way COVID-19 has been affecting Rhode Island’s Latino community, Rep. Grace Diaz (D-Dist. 11, Providence) is urging Providence Latinos who are showing symptoms of the disease to get tested at one of the city’s clinics.
“I’m troubled by reports that up to 45 percent of those who tested positive are from the Latino community,” said Representative Diaz, whose House district represents a large population of people of Latino descent. “The reasons for this have much to do with the fact that many Latino’s work in essential high-risk jobs, including health care. This, coupled with the fact that many families house multiple generations under one roof, has led to a large percentage becoming infected with COVID-19, even through Latinos make up only 16 percent of the general population.
“I applaud Gov. Gina Raimondo for putting together a task force to get to the bottom of other reasons why this disease has hit Latinos so disproportionately. In the meantime, I urge everyone in the Latino community to get tested at one of the city’s sites. Free testing is being done at both Bailey Elementary School at 65 Gordon Ave. in Providence, and at Clinica Esperanza at 60 Valley Street in Olneyville. Testing is confidential and by appointment only. Call first to schedule a time and receive instructions. Call the Bailey school site at (401) 444-0404, and Clinica Esperanza at (401) 408-0238.”
For more information, contact:
Daniel Trafford, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401)222-1922
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