Beyoncé and her mother help fund Covid-19 testing facilities in Houston
Beyoncé is teaming up with her mother, Tina Knowles Lawson, to spearhead Covid-19 testing efforts in their hometown of Houston, Texas.
Per a press release shared to Beyoncé's official website, the star's BeyGood organisation will be initiating the #IDidMyPart campaign, which encourages black communities to prioritise their health amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
It's been revealed in the weeks since the novel virus' spread that black communities are being disproportionately affected by the global health crisis in the United States. According to a report from the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of mid-April, 33.7 per cent of Covid-19 patients were black, even while comprising only 13 per cent of the United States' population. In addition, 33 per cent of all coronavirus fatalities have been black Americans.
"We are all in this together. But we have to look at what is happening in our black and brown communities and how they are being decimated by Covid-19," said Knowles Lawson in a statement. "It is critical that we stay vigilant with social distancing, wearing a mask, and most of all getting tested. If you don't get tested then you don't know if you are a carrier of the virus. Being asymptomatic is how you infect your entire household and those around you, the very people you love. We have got to go to these free testing facilities and find out our status."
This weekend, Beyoncé and her mother's efforts will bring two days of testing efforts to Houston, providing 1,000 testing kits and protective gear such as face masks and gloves to participants. In addition, hot meal vouchers and grocery gift cards will be donated to health care workers and staff in Houston.
The end goal of the campaign is for other high-profile celebrities to nominate each other to help fund testing efforts in their respective hometowns. According to the press release, Tyler Perry has already accepted the #IDidMyPart challenge and will help facilitate testing efforts in Atlanta, Georgia.
Before announcing the new testing initiative, Beyonce previously donated $6 million to aid organisations that support health facilities in New York, New Orleans, Detroit and Houston.
In need of some at-home inspiration? Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for skincare and self-care, the latest cultural hits to read and download, and the little luxuries that make staying in so much more satisfying.
You Might Also Like
