NAACP Says Federal Negligence is Responsible for Increase in COVID-19 Cases

Washington, D.C. (July 2, 2020 ) – The NAACP released the following statement in regards to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases spreading across the United States:

The recent news of record spikes in COVID-19 cases across the country is truly alarming. Our nation is in peril because of this pandemic and as a result of negligence by this Administration in the infancy of this virus and its refusal to lead on critical preventive measures now. Inaction, which disproportionately impacted the Black community, is now being compounded by inadequate oversight, as states were urged to reopen, prioritizing economic profits over the well-being of American citizens.

The notion that this virus that has now claimed over 120,000 American lives and offers a recent single-day record of over 50,000 cases will suddenly "disappear" is both egregious and dangerous to the American people. Recent confirmation by this Administration that federal funding to testing sites across the country will be cut as hospital admissions across seven states hit record highs in the last week can only be considered social malpractice.

At a time where our country is becoming even more vulnerable by the spread of COVID-19, the need for continued funding for expanded testing and nationwide protocols that follow the guidelines recommended by public health experts — wearing face coverings in public, maintaining physical distance, exercising proper hygiene, minimizing crowds and reopening businesses carefully — should be the only alternative to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect and save lives. These measures will also help us move forward together as safely as possible.

As numerous states pause reopening efforts and reenact more stringent policies and practices for social engagement, we urge all federal, state and local government leaders to take necessary precautions toward an effective and responsible resuming of activities and to ensure that the lives of our people are weighed more prominently than economic profits.

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Founded in 1909 in response to the ongoing violence against Black people around the country, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is the largest and most pre-eminent civil rights organization in the nation. We have over 2,200 units and branches across the nation, along with well over 2M activists. Our mission is to secure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights in order to eliminate race-based discrimination and ensure the health and well-being of all persons. The NAACP is a c4 organization (contributions are not tax-deductible), and we have a partner c3 organizations known as NAACP Empowerment Programs (contributions are fully tax-deductible as allowed by the IRS). NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund — also referred to as the NAACP-LDF was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but separated in 1957 to become a completely separate entity. It is recognized as the nation's first civil and human rights law organization and shares our commitment to equal rights.