The pandemic is hitting racial and ethnic minorities harder in Virginia, according to a new poll.
Black people in Virginia were twice as likely to have a member of their household lose a job, be placed on furlough or have their work hours cut in the last three months. That's according to a new poll from the Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Former Governor Wilder says the poll shows a divide in Virginia.
"It's money," he explains. "It's the opportunity to have a better life, to live in a better environment, to have better health, to be in a position to buy foods that are wholesome, to have groceries that are available, to have transportation to be able to afford to be able to get to a job."
That last point, having transportation, is crucial for workers as they return -- or try to return -- to the workforce.
"If you don't have a car, if you have no public transportation available, and if the job is of such a nature that you've got to be there on a regular basis, eight hours, etcetera; how are you going to get there," Wilder asks.
The poll also found that a majority of Virginians, 61%, support colleges and universities requiring students to be vaccinated for COVID-19 before returning to campus this fall.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
