White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx on Friday said that the largest percentage of those COVID-19 patients who are admitted to a hospital make less than $25,000 a year. 

Citing data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Birx noted that 28 percent of inpatient COVID-19 cases are people who make less than $25,000 a year, making up by far the highest share of patients per income bracket.

Those making $49,000-$25,000 made up the second-highest share of inpatient cases at 19 percent. 

Birx, who spoke at a virtual press conference hosted by the New England Journal of Medicine, noted that demographics that have historically been vulnerable to diseases like HIV and diabetes are also more likely to contract the novel coronavirus. In their report, the CDC noted that inpatient cases are more likely to suffer from chronic conditions such as hypertension.

Both Birx and Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, made contributions to HIV research earlier in their careers. 

“This is like HIV in that there are specific vulnerable groups, by race, ethnicity or their relationship in poverty,” said Birx.

Dr. Birx says she expects to see an increase in mortality in individuals with Covid19 in the coming weeks. https://t.co/qcnvZAyRBy

— Erin Banco (@ErinBanco) July 10, 2020