Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders infected with coronavirus at higher rate

Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have become infected with the coronavirus at higher rates than other minority groups, including high-risk African Americans and American Indians in western states, according to the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine.

In California, with the second-largest population of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders outside Hawaii, the group had the highest rate of COVID-19 infections at 217.7 cases per 100,000, compared to all confirmed cases statewide at 62.4. In Utah, the group’s infection rate was 197.6 versus 142.2 for the total population, and Washington’s King County reported a rate of 189.5 cases per 100,000, compared to 182.1, according to Keawe‘aimoku Kaho­lokula, professor and chairman of Native Hawaiian Health at JABSOM, which examined data released by several mainland states with large populations of Polynesians.