How Did the Mayors COVID Lockdowns Affect Access to Healthcare for the Minority Population in Tremont?

Chapter 1

Introduction

The panic regarding the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic led to new administrative challenges regarding protecting and serving communities at the same time. Many cities across America reacted to COVID by trying to curb the virus's spread through the implementation of lockdowns. Local governments implemented drastic measures that changed daily life overnight and exposed the vulnerabilities of already underserved and marginalized communities.

In New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in the United States, Mayor Bill de Blasio's office issued a series of lockdown policies starting in March 2020 (NYC, 2020) These policies included the closure of non-essential businesses, the implementation of remote learning, the restriction of public gatherings, and the enforcement of social distancing in essential services (NYC, 2020). The media by and large reported on these measures as necessary to contain the public health crisis; however, for the public affected by these measures, there were far-reaching consequencesparticularly for the population of Tremont in the Bronx.

Tremont is a predominantly minority community in the Bronx. It has long been characterized by socio-economic disparities, such as high poverty rates and inadequate access to healthcare (NYC, 2020). There are28,095 residentsin Tremont, with a median age of 32. 46.46% are males and 53.54% are females. US-born citizens make up 54.9% of the residents in Tremont, and non-US-born citizens account for 25.36%. 19.74% of the population consists of non-citizens. The neighborhood's residents are mostly African American (11%), Asian (23%), and Hispanic (57%), all groups that have historically dealt with systemic barriers to economic mobility and healthcare equity (Census Reporter, 2024; Gilbert et al., 2022). The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown response essentially aggravated already existing challenges for this population by further limiting access to critical services. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the specific impact of the lockdown policies implemented between March 2020 and September 2020 on the socio-economic conditions of low-income residents in the Tremont neighborhood. In particular, the research will focus on how these policies affected access to healthcare for the minority population in this community.

Contextualizing the Tremont Neighborhood in the Bronx

It is important to understand the pre-pandemic socio-economic condition of Tremont. Like many other neighborhoods in the South Bronx, Tremont is home to a low-income, minority population that has experienced continual challenges related to poverty, healthcare access, and environmental racism (Brennan, 2021; Estevez, 2020). Indeed, the Bronx has one of the highest poverty rates in New York City, with many residents relying on public assistance and living in overcrowded housing (Clark & Shabsigh, 2022). These socio-economic conditions have long contributed to health disparities in the borough, as minority communities experiencing higher rates of chronic diseases compared to other parts of the city (Shiman, 2021).

The...

The South Bronx, including Tremont, has been disproportionately affected by environmental hazards, such as poor air quality and high levels of pollution. Estevez (2020) notes that the South Bronx has historically been subject to political practices that have allowed hazardous industrial activities in the area, which have in turn contributed to high rates of respiratory illnesses among residents. These pre-existing conditions made the Tremont community particularly vulnerable.

Additionally, Tremont residents have faced systemic barriers to accessing quality healthcare (Shiman et al., 2021). The Bronx is home to several public hospitals and community health clinics, but many of these facilities are underfunded and understaffed due to structural racism within the healthcare system, which has contributed to disparities in healthcare access, with minority communities in neighborhoods like Tremont receiving...

…health interventions. Ensuring equitable access to healthcare, particularly during public health emergencies, is critical to preventing further harm to these communities.

Policy recommendations for future public health crises should include increased funding for public hospitals and community health centers, expanded access to telemedicine services with support for digital literacy and internet access, and targeted outreach efforts to ensure that minority populations receive timely and accurate health information. By addressing these systemic issues, policymakers can help reduce healthcare disparities and improve health outcomes for low-income, minority communities like Tremont during future crises (Shiman et al., 2021; Friedman & Lee, 2023).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown policies enacted by Mayor Bill de Blasios office between March 2020 and September 2020 had serious effects on low-income communities across New York City, particularly in neighborhoods like Tremont in the Bronx. As this research has shown, Tremont is home to a predominantly minority and low-income area, and was already grappling with significant socio-economic challenges, including inadequate access to healthcare, high rates of chronic illnesses, and environmental injustices, all of whih contribute to the social determinants of health and disease. These pre-existing vulnerabilities were especially worsened by the public health measures of the mayors office.

The lockdown policies resulted in the temporary closure or limitation of many healthcare facilities that residents of Tremont relied on for essential services. Community clinics and public hospitals, which provide care to uninsured and underinsured residents, were also overwhelmed by the surge of COVID-19 patients. This led to delays in care for non-COVID-related health issues and a reduction in routine medical services, such as chronic disease management and preventive healthcare, worsening health outcomes for many in the community.

Furthermore, the healthcare disparities that were already present in Tremont became more pronounced as access to care diminished during the lockdown. Factors such as overcrowded living…