Community Health Workers in the Fight Against COVID-19

Throughout the world, we have seen a high number of individuals testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19. As of June 30, 2020, the world has reported approximately 10 million confirmed cases of COVID-19, of which 2.5 million have been reported in the US (WHO Coronavirus, 2020). Although many people understand the coronavirus and its symptoms, there are people who do not fully comprehend the dangers of the virus. In the US itself, 14% of adults stated that they would avoid seeking treatment due to concerns over cost if a family member had a fever and dry cough, whereas only 9% stated they would avoid seeking treatment if a family member was suspected to be infected by the coronavirus. This discrepancy indicates that many adults do not fully understand that fever and dry cough are symptoms of the virus. More often than not, people who live in underprivileged communities have less awareness about health issues (Witters, 2020). So how do we help those with limited resources? The answer is community health workers.