COVID-19 in Latin America: a humanitarian crisis

Even in the higher income city of Toronto, sub-city units with lower income, higher proportions of racialized residents, and greater concentration of essential workers were found to be disproportionately affected.

“Even in the higher income city of Toronto, sub-city units with lower income, higher proportions of racialized residents, and greater concentration of “essential workers” were found to be disproportionately affected [31, 32].”

Marginalized women and Indigenous populations have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic, and each are more likely to live in lower income sub-city units.

“This has led to groups such as marginalized women and Indigenous populations being disproportionately affected by the pandemic, each of whom are more likely to live in lower income sub-city units [28–30].”

Informal work makes up approximately 54% of all employment in Latin America, and more than 60% in countries like Colombia and Peru.

“With informal work making up approximately 54% of all employment in the region – as well as more than 60% in countries like Colombia and Peru – many informal workers were impacted by the lack of employment protections and have had to continue to work in precarious conditions [24–28].”