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Lesly, 41, is a Spanish-speaking mother from Waltham, Mass. She lost her healthcare along with her office-cleaning job at the end of March.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, she talked of how her body is racked with symptoms of COVID-19. She has not been tested because her doctor told her she needed to have health insurance.

The fact is that tests for the coronavirus illness are free for uninsured people under a federal law passed last month, but Lesly – who like 8 percent of the adult population living in the United States is limited-English proficient – has struggled to get accurate information.

“I’m very scared,” she said through an interpreter. “I don’t know if I’m going to wake up tomorrow and feel worse. A family down the street, the whole family is infected.”

Lesly’s story is reflective of a hard truth that is emerging across the U.S. Hispanics, and multicultural Americans in general, are being impacted by the coronavirus far more than the average American. Communication failures are partially to blame, creating a weak link in the chain that will likely impact the health and safety of all U.S. citizens.

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The U.S. Hispanic market is massive – and growing larger at a dizzying rate.

There are more than 130 million multicultural Americans, making up nearly 38 percent of the total population. One out of five of these multicultural Americans is Hispanic. There are nearly 60 million Hispanics living in the U.S. today, and that number will grow by 12 million over the next five years. In fact, by 2050, the U.S. is expected to be the world’s largest Spanish-speaking country.

These are a lot of numbers, but what does it all mean to the average American business?

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Did you know that by 2045, ethnic minorities will be the majority of the U.S. population?

Or that immigration will be responsible for almost 90 percent of America’s population growth between now and then? Are you aware that in just over 30 years, the U.S. is expected to have more Spanish speakers than any other country?

America’s cultural shifts are gaining speed. The demographic changes that have gradually occurred over the course of our history will pass an important demarcation point, as ethnic minorities will make up the majority of the U.S. population within 25 years.

LanguageLine’s new infographic, “America’s ‘Majority Minority’ Future,” paints a picture of a United States that will be much more multicultural and multilingual than it is today. You can download the new infographic by clicking here.

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