White residents far less likely to die from COVID-19

The coronavirus death rate among minorities is substantially higher than that of whites, according to Los Angeles County officials.

Whites were the least likely to die from the virus, with 13 fatalities reported per 100,000 white residents.

But for every 100,000 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents, there were 53 to 154 deaths — a rate four to 12 times that of white people.

For every 100,000 black residents, there were 26 coronavirus deaths. That’s double the rate for whites.

And for every 100,000 Latino residents, there were 22 deaths — a 70% higher death rate than for whites.

Here’s what county officials reported on May 22 about L.A. County residents whose race and ethnicity have been identified among those who have died from

COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Coronavirus deaths per 100,000 residents by race and ethnicity:

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 53 to 154 deaths per 100,000

◼ Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander residents.

◼ Black: 26 deaths per 100,000 black residents.

◼ Latino: 22 deaths per 100,000 Latino residents.

◼ Asian American: 16 deaths per 100,000 Asian American residents.

◼ White: 13 deaths per 100,000 white residents.

Poverty is associated with high coronavirus death rate.

Those living in areas with higher rates of poverty suffered a coronavirus death rate nearly quadruple that of those living in areas with very low poverty levels, L.A. County’s director of public health, Barbara Ferrer, said last month.

◼ Residents in areas with high rates of poverty: 41 deaths per 100,000 residents.

◼Residents in areas with very low rates of poverty: 11 deaths per 100,000 residents.

“The data remains deeply disturbing and it will require a lot of collaboration and work with our partners to address the inequities,” Ferrer said.

Of those dying from COVID-19 with underlying health issues, a significant share are younger adults.

The percentage of people who have died from COVID-19 with underlying health conditions has slightly risen: About 93% of people who have died from the coronavirus in L.A. County have had underlying health conditions.

A significant share of those have been younger adults. About 40% of people who have died from the disease and also had underlying health conditions were younger than 65.

About 35% to 40% of Los Angeles County residents have an underlying health condition, Ferrer said.

Most new infections are occurring among adults 65 or younger.

Officials say 76% of all coronavirus cases in L.A. County are occurring among adults 65 or younger. That population makes up 57% of L.A. County.

Deaths by population:

Among people who live in the jurisdiction of the L.A. County Department of Public Health — which excludes Long Beach and Pasadena — here are the demographics of people who have died from COVID-19 by age:

◼ 18 to 40: 2.6%.

◼ 41 to 65: 20.1%.

◼Older than 65: 77.3%. Here are the percentages of the population that the above age groups represent in L.A. County (numbers do not add up to 100% because of rounding):

◼ 18 to 40: 35%.

◼ 41 to 65: 22%.

◼Older than 65: 14%.

Deaths by racial and ethnic group:

Here are the percentages of residents who have died, by race and ethnicity, as of Wednesday, from COVID-19:

◼ Latino: 40%.

◼ White: 29%.

◼ Asian American: 17%.

◼ Black: 12%.

◼ Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 1%.

◼ Other: 1%. For comparison, here are the percentages of county residents by race and ethnicity:

◼ Latino: 49.3%.

◼ White: 27.6%.

◼ Asian American: 14.5%.

◼ Black: 8.2%.

◼ Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.2%.

Times staff writer Soumya Karlamangla contributed to this report.