Dr. Fauci says that COVID-19 has exposed ‘undeniable effects of racism’

While addressing the graduating class at Atlanta's Emory University via webcam, Dr. Fauci said "COVID-19 has shown a bright light on our own society's failings, evidenced by the disproportionate impact of the virus on people of color. This, he said, is both as a result of their being employed as essential workers, and because of a predominance of underlying health conditions.

Fauci said that African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans are at the forefront of the "undeniable effects of racism" which have led to unacceptable health disparities amongst those communities.

Dr. Anthony Fauci also said that minorities are more likely to become infected if exposed to COVID because of high instances in those communities of hypertension, chronic lung disease, diabetes and obesity. He said that "very few of these comorbidities have racial determinants."

Instead, he said, "Almost all relate to the social determinants of health dating back to disadvantageous conditions that some people of color find themselves in from birth regarding the availability of an adequate diet, access to health care and the undeniable effects of racism in our society."

During Fauci's address, he urged graduates to be a part of the solution to help correct societal wrongs.

Emory University awarded Fauci with the president's medal on Sunday.

"Societal divisiveness is counterproductive in a pandemic," Fauci said while accepting the award. "We must not be at odds with each other since the virus is the enemy, not each other."

"Each of you deserves enormous respect for your extraordinary adaptability, resilience and dedication to learning, completing your studies and graduating despite immense difficulties and uncertainties," Fauci continued.

According to the Daily Mail, recipients of the presidents medal have included former President Jimmy Carter, the Dalai Lama and the late US Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights icon.