[ad_1]
Image copyright
fake pictures
The new people suggest that people living in less favored areas of England and Wales are more likely to die from coronaviruses than those from wealthier places.
Analysis by the Office for National Statistics shows that there were 55 deaths per 100,000 people in the poorest parts of England, compared to 25 in the wealthier areas.
Mortality rates are normally higher in poorer areas.
But the ONS said the coronavirus seemed to be increasing the problem.
“This is something we are concerned about and looking at,” said Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Speaking at the daily coronavirus briefing, Mr. Hancock said his department was investigating the various ways the virus impacts different groups to understand it “as much as possible.”
Across the country, the highest death rates have been in urban areas where many people live. The overall death rate in London has been almost double that of the next highest region.
The data also shows that Covid-19’s death rate in the most disadvantaged areas of England has been higher among men, with 76.7 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to 39.6 per 100,000 women.
“Overall death rates are typically higher in the most disadvantaged areas, but so far Covid-19 appears to be raising them even further,” said Nick Stripe, head of health analysis at ONS.
Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said the report showed the virus thrived on inequality.
“Ministers must address health inequalities with a comprehensive strategy to address the broader social determinants of poor health,” he said.
The ONS used the Multiple Deprivation Index, a relative measure of poverty last updated in 2019.
The index takes into account factors such as income, employment, crime, and health deprivation and disability in an area.
The ONS studied the 20,283 Covid-19 related deaths that occurred between March 1 and April 17. In England, it found that the death rate in the most disadvantaged areas was 55.1 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, while the rate was 25.3 deaths per 100,000 in the least disadvantaged areas.
In Wales, statisticians found that one-fifth of the most disadvantaged areas had a death rate of 44.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, almost double the rate of the least disadvantaged areas of 23.2 deaths per 100,000.
Also found:
- Southwest England had the lowest Covid-19 death rate, with 16.4 deaths per 100,000 population
- The council areas with the highest Covid-19 death rates were all in London. Newham had the highest rate with 144.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Brent with 141.5 and Hackney with 127.4
David Finch, a senior fellow at the Health Foundation, said people in disadvantaged areas were at increased risk of exposure to Covid-19 because they were likely to live in tight housing conditions.
He said those people were also more likely to have one or more long-term health conditions, which means they would be at increased risk for serious symptoms of the virus if exposed.
‘Forgotten victims’
Javed Khan, executive director of the children’s charity, said the ONS study was “troubling” but “unfortunately not surprising.”
“Vulnerable children and families, and those already disadvantaged, are at risk of becoming forgotten victims,” he added.
“Without intervention, this crisis will be devastating for an entire generation: Their mental health, safety, education and job prospects are at stake.”
The ONS analysis comes in a separate study from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) that says that black African coronavirus patients in England and Wales die at more than triple the rate of white Britons.
The IFS said that a higher proportion of people from ethnic minorities lived in areas most affected by Covid-19.
