The COVID-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc across the globe and hitting the United States especially hard. And the hardest hit racial demographic in the U.S. is African-Americans, who are both contracting the disease and dying from the disease at a much higher rate than any other group.

In Richmond, African-Americans account for more than 60 percent of all infections. As of last Friday, 13 of the 14 deaths from the virus reported in our city were of African-Americans.

Why are we seeing this disparity?

One reason is that systemic racism has historically led to a lack of access to affordable housing, healthy foods, affordable health care, quality education and economic mobility. The result is black people are more likely to suffer from underlying health issues like heart disease, diabetes and respiratory illnesses, which can lead to serious complications if infected by this virus.

But another critical factor that makes this pandemic so deadly across our nation is the lack of equitable access to COVID-19 testing and adequate follow-up care for those who test positive.

A few weeks ago, the Richmond City Health District started collecting race-related data so that we can know locally how the disease is impacting our city. More importantly, we worked with RCHD to ensure our most vulnerable residents who may not have access to COVID-19 testing have the opportunity to get tested if they choose.

Last week, RCHD began free, COVID-19 testing in the city’s Southwood community and, this week, testing will continue in the city’s public housing communities, ensuring that our historically forgotten communities are centered and protected during this pandemic. As testing becomes more available, we also will strive to test asymptomatic individuals in at-risk communities, knowing community spread of the coronavirus in vulnerable populations can have more dire consequences.

But as testing becomes more accessible, it is critically important that members of our at-risk communities actually take advantage of it. To do so means overcoming the very real and valid concerns that have informed the historic mistrust of the government within our community.

As I’ve stated before, people of color— African-Americans in particular—have been exploited and abused by government throughout history in the name of science and medicine. From the Tuskegee experiment to Henrietta Lacks, we have been misguided and mistreated.

I can assure you that this is not one of those times. Misinformation is contagious, and it is spreading faster than this virus on the internet, in social media and in some of our housing communities.

Let me be clear: The goal of this testing is to protect. Knowledge is power, and providing the opportunity to know whether a loved one may be carrying the virus will help people help themselves and protect their family and their community by getting the care they need.

To this end, we have a strategy in place to connect those who test positive for COVID-19 with the appropriate resources and health care service providers to get them the care and support they need to recover. As I told members of the Richmond Tenants Organization in a call last week, we’ve seen this disease kill generations within a family. We need to act to keep it from claiming more lives.

Testing is absolutely voluntary and free of charge. If you live in a Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority public housing community, are experiencing symptoms and would like to take the test to know whether or not you have the virus, you now have the ability to do so.

There will be no injections of any kind. This is not a vaccine. This is a test that only involves a swab of your nostril to determine whether you are carrying the virus. If you test positive and you are uninsured or underinsured, our community health workers will work with you to get you the care you need and provide you with the proper follow-up support.

Each person who shows up at one of the RRHA community resource centers to get tested will be provided a mask and hand sanitizer to ensure your health and safety during your interaction with health care workers.

So if you live in an RRHA community and are showing symptoms, I strongly encourage you to call the city health district’s hotline at (804) 205-3501 and make an appointment to get tested.

Finally, I urge everyone to continue to practice social distancing to the best extent possible and to stay at home, if you are able, to help reduce the spread and impact of this virus, especially on our most vulnerable community members.

I understand there are challenges that may make this difficult, but as with this free testing, we will continue to do everything we can to protect and keep you safe.

Now more than ever, we need to take care of each other. And working together, I know Richmond will get through this. We are RVAStrong!

The writer is mayor of the City of Richmond.