Health care experts say pandemic exposed disparities in system

In North Carolina, African-Americans make up 22 percent of the population but represent 37 percent of coronavirus infections and 34 percent of deaths.

The reasons span a lack of available tests in black communities to the number of African-Americans working in low-wage "essential" jobs, such as retail.

"It's not just one thing. It's all of these things together that are really creating this system of increased exposure," Barber said. "They have been the least protected but the most exposed, lacking the personal protective equipment and income protections such as paid sick leave."

In addition to black communities, scientists are worried about the spread of the virus in rural areas, where health care is lacking, and among the homeless, who can have a hard time social distancing.

"None of these are new phenomena," said Dr. Carrie Henning-Smith, of the University of Minnesota public health system. "They are just exposing the structural flaws and inequities baked into our system."

Public health experts says they hope the pandemic leads to changes that will address some of these problems.