  Redlining is the discriminatory practice whereby institutions avoided
investment in certain neighborhoods due to their demographics. Here we explore
the lasting impacts of redlining on the spread of COVID-19 in New York City
(NYC). Using data available through the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, we
construct a redlining index for each NYC census tract via a multi-level
logistical model. We compare this redlining index with the COVID-19 statistics
for each NYC Zip Code Tabulation Area. Accurate mappings of the pandemic would
aid the identification of the most vulnerable areas and permit the most
effective allocation of medical resources, while reducing ethnic health
disparities.
