Virtually every passing day demonstrates that the world does not know enough about COVID-19 to combat the virus effectively. Research on it — and on identifying other emerging disease threats — needs to be a higher priority.

A priority should be how the coronavirus affects racial minorities. We know in our country that Blacks, Hispanics and Native Americans have been more vulnerable than whites to the disease.

A recent report adds urgency to finding answers about that. It came from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which investigated children who require hospitalization because of COVID-19.

Black children have been hospitalized five times more frequently than whites, CDC researchers found. Hispanic children are even more vulnerable, with a hospitalization rate eight times that of white youngsters.

Friday’s report was a “gut punch,” Carrie Henning-Smith, a University of Minnesota researcher, told The Associated Press. Indeed it was — heart-wrenchingly so.

We don’t know why COVID-19 affects minorities more severely than whites. Race may not be the only factor involved. Everything from socio-economic status to diet, from access to health care to proximity to COVID-19 hot spots needs to be investigated.