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A UK study has found that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people are at significantly higher risk of dying from Covid-19.
The study, from Public Health England (PHE), looked at the risk factors for coronavirus and found BAME individuals have a much higher risk of death than white people, as do those from poorer backgrounds, men and anyone who is obese or suffering from diabetes.
UK health secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons today that the evidence showed that coronavirus targets people in an “unequal and disproportionate way”.
“Black lives matter, as do those of the poorest areas of our country which have worse health outcomes and we need to make sure all of these considerations are taken into account, and action is taken to level-up the health outcomes of people across this country,” he said.
The report showed that, after accounting for the effect of sex, age, deprivation and region, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity have around twice the risk of death than people who are white British.
Those of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean and Other Black ethnicity have between a 10% and 50% higher risk of death when compared to white British.
The highest diagnosis Covid-19 rates per 100,000 population are in black people (486 females and 649 males), and are lowest in white people (220 in females and 224 in males).
Compared to previous years, death from all causes are now almost four times higher than expected among black males, almost three times higher in Asian males and almost two times higher in white males.
Among females, deaths were almost three times higher in black, mixed and other females, and 2.4 times higher in Asian females compared with 1.6 times in white females.
The study said the “relationship between ethnicity and health is complex and likely to be the result of a combination of factors”.
For example, BAME people are likely to be at increased risk of acquiring the infection due to the fact they are more likely to live in urban areas, in overcrowded households, in deprived areas, and have jobs that expose them to higher risk, the study said.
BAME communities are also likely to be at increased risk of poorer outcomes once they contract Covid-19.
The study said some of this is due to underlying health issues, with people of Bangladeshi and Pakistani background having higher rates of cardiovascular disease than people who are white British.
Black Caribbean and Black African people also have higher rates of blood pressure, while Type 2 diabetes, which has obesity as its main driver, is more common in BAME individuals.
The study also found that men working as security guards, taxi drivers and chauffeurs, bus and coach drivers, chefs, sales and retail assistants, lower skilled workers in construction and processing plants, and men and women working in social care, had significantly high rates of death from Covid-19.
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Selective condemnation as per usual. Not a word from our lackeys in government about the imprisonment of Julian Assange
@Ronaldo Blanc: Exactly, or Snowden or Chelsea Manning.
@Ronaldo Blanc: different thing. Assange ain’t no hero, he committed crimes and two independent Investigatory bodies and court systems are holding him.
Russia does not have independent system. Very corrupted. Try to keep up lad.
@Tom Ripley: ones man terrorist is another’s freedom fighter Tom
@Tom Ripley: Assange committee no crimes, was wrongfully accused and is wrongfully held because he exposed WAR CRIMES. Navalny is no hero but is simply a useful mouthpiece for the west to end the Nordstream pipeline project in Europe. He is no hero.
@Tom Ripley: come off it, the only “crime” which Julian Assange was convicted of was the breach of his bail conditions, in the case to extradite him to the USA on the back of sealed secret charges and punish him for revealing the truth through wiki leaks.
In his position I suppose you would just happily wait to be extradited to face trumped up charges in a foreign jurisdiction, with the prospect of being sentenced to 200 years in prison…
@Tom Ripley: … and if the U.S beurocrats are successful in Theo attempts to end the Nordstream pipeline Europe will be forced to pay through the nose 3 times the price for gas from the U.S so it is you who clearly needs to “keep up” Mr. “Ripley”
@Tom Ripley @David cotter @Paul Wrenn @David Van-Standen @Ronaldo Blanc.: Assange was not convicted of any crime. He was not even charged with any crime. He is being held in maximum security Belmarsh prison. He has been held against his will in the UK for over 10 years. He’s a Journalist. He’s being held because of his journalism. He’s a political prisoner. He should be freed immediately to be with his Wife and Children.
@Tom Ripley: He was stitched up by the Americans because he was releasing their dirty secrets. Get with it you dummy and don’t believe everything you see on Fox TV.
@Tom Ripley: Assange, war crimes whistleblower, enemy of the US and UK .
Navalny, western backed useful tool to put an end to Nord Stream Two.
@Ronaldo Blanc: wheres Frances Black on this!!!!
Countries will condemn this in a quick statement but no actions will be taken. That will be it….
@Local Ore: you are absolutely right. Ireland should do more. We should invade Russia.
We worry because it is in the headlines. Those Catalan politicians and community leaders that organised the referendum a number of years ago received lengthy prison sentences by the Spanish and are still in prison. There was uproar at the time but life moves on…….
We could send the health minister over to check it out.
But complete silence from the hypocrites when they lock up Assange who threatens their war crimes and weapons industry sales.
Simon Coveney shakes fist @ clouds!
To be honest this is hypocrisy. Why is the Irish Government not concerned about Julian Assange. Because he compromised American Information! Why are they interested in Navalny ?because it is a chance to take a dig at Russia. Imagine if Putin told the courts in the Uk to release a UK citizen from jail.
Navalny was a business man in Russia before blogging. Ask yourself the question how clean was he? Did he pay all his taxes? Well he got caught. They were nice to him but he went too far. In Ireland he would be called and treated as a Tax Cheat. Why does n’t the Irish government stand up for irish tax cheats when revenue starts prowling?
Yes Bring back the CCCP
And what’s that going to do?
You will know if a comment posted anywhere is that of an Irish person
Patronizing. Try to keep up lad.
@Michael Fitzgerald: Can we have that in english please…
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