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Kathy Hochul in 'racist' storm: Memo tells NY docs to consider race before administering treatment

State health department sends out a memo saying 'consider race and ethnicity when assessing an individual’s risk'

A memo from New York City's Department of Health on December 27 has sparked a major racism row after it appears to indicate that non-Whites should be prioritized for Covid-19 oral antiviral therapies. Signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, the memo tells New York City health professionals to consider race and ethnicity when deciding to administer the Pfizer or Merck oral treatments for Covid-19.

The crisis has quickly spiraled into allegations that Hochul is racist, as the new Governor faces a major crisis months after taking over from Andrew Cuomo. Hochul is already facing multiple crises  - from a quick rise in Covid-19 cases to widespread violence in the city that has left the NYPD on its edge. The city's homeless crisis has also grown, despite Cuomo and Hochul's promise to crack down on it all. 

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The memo in question is still available for the public to access. It appears to be another example of how the Democrats are approaching fighting racism wrongly, after reports of schools canceling D and F grades in a fight against "systemic racism". While it may have come with genuinely good intentions, social media didn't see it that way as the poorly-worded document left many furious. 

Is Gov. Hochul racist?

There are two memos published on December 27 that deal with Covid-19 oral antiviral therapies approved by the FDA. One, by health commissioner Dave Chokshi appears to be for internal government communication. Titled '2021 Health Advisory #39', it says, "Supplies of oral antivirals will initially be extremely limited, and there is now only one monoclonal antibody product that is effective for treatment of infection caused by the omicron variant," he noted, adding eligibility criteria to help doctors determine who should receive the treatment. 

The criteria include having minor symptoms of Covid and having a medical condition that could exacerbate the disease as well as weighing over 40Kg. Oddly, Chokshi also said, "Consider race and ethnicity when assessing an individual’s risk. Impacts of longstanding systemic health and social inequities put Black, Indigenous, and People of Color at increased risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes and death."

A similar memo was sent out to health care providers, signed by the Governor as well as Chokshi. In it, the commissioner says, "Non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19." The missive does have some truth to it, with minorities suffering from greater death rates and lack of access to treatment of the same quality as White Americans, so it's clear that Hochul is not racist. 

'This is illegal'

However, if the administration wanted to address that fact, the phrasing didn't exactly do so in a clear manner. Many users online saw it as an attempt to create racial divides in the city's health care system. "It is. It's against white people, and you and your "health" department are the instigators and perpetrators. I hope someone in NY sues your ass off!" one Twitter user commented. Another reacted, "So NOW @GovKathyHochul is allowing RACISM to playout for all to see. How does the Black, Latino/Hispanic community feel being labeled a "Risk Factor"??????......" Another responded to the news, "Continuing to divide!!! They do not want unity."

One Fox News columnist commented, "NY State Department of Health warns they don't have enough Paxlovid or Monoclonal Antibody Treatment and white people need not apply." One user reacted, "This is #Illegal. Arrest her!!!"

A good number of users hit back at these tweets, correcting them for their clear misinformation. For one, the city did not say White people "need not apply", but simply asked doctors to consider race as a key factor. According to CDC data, the risk for hospitalization is 2.6x for African-Americans, and 2.5x for Hispanics/Latinos. Likewise, the risk of deaths is 1.9x and 2.1x. Indeed, targeting the most vulnerable makes sense, but it appears Hochul and her team could have been more careful about the way they worded it or at least provided more context.