The CPI investigated the ways the pandemic affects Puerto Rican communities in the diasporas. The story reveals that the geographical areas with the highest number of COVID-19 infections and deaths in the US coincide with the counties with the highest proportion of Puerto Ricans. This trend shows when analyzing the rates of infection and deaths in the 594 U.S. counties with more than 100,000 inhabitants. The project explores in-depth the experience of Puerto Ricans in the states of New York, New Jersey and Florida.
The trend is more strongly observed in the state of New York. Urban poverty and social vulnerability factors increase the possibility of becoming infected or dying from the virus in places where most Puerto Ricans live.
