How Extreme Wealth Spreads Disease and How The Rest Cope

There is an argument that the Coronavirus pandemic is an equalizer. It does not care who is infected. This is true. But how different American populations respond to the virus uncovers the deep economic, class and intersecting gender and racial inequalities in the United States.

How the 1% spread the Coronavirus

The remarkably wealthy are both able to avoid infection while at the same time spreading disease to sedentary, lower-income communities.

The generally affluent in New York are a good example. While most of the city followed the state-imposed “stay at home” order, those with means recently left the cramped city for expensive homes in the Hamptons or Florida. Angry social media posts by local residents in many of these idyllic retreat communities warned wealthy Manhattanites to stay away. They did not listen. Their exodus has instead spread the virus to Florida, Michigan and many other states even prompting the CDC to issue unprecedented guidelines for New Yorkers to stay put. Thes…