Our update on public health in Metro Atlanta recaps coverage of COVID-19 and offers an overview of data related to homicide, opioids and maternal health. Key insights include:
- If you need to compare COVID-19’s toll to anything, heart disease – the state and region’s #1 killer – offers a much more comparable data point than the flu.
- The death rate from homicides did increase in 2020, but it is not evenly experienced across the population.
- The death rate from opioids also increased in 2020. While the rate is highest among White Atlantans, this group is not the only one experiencing an increase.
- Fetal and infant mortality rates are highest among Black mothers in the 11-county area, but we are seeing modest improvements in these metrics.
- For a little good news, County Health Rankings still says the 11-county area has some of the healthiest residents in the state.