Historic racism may be to blame for more BAME Brits dying from Covid-19, report reveals

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HISTORIC racism may be to blame for why black and ethnic minority Brits are more likely to die from Covid-19, a major report reveals.

The Public Health England study found the pandemic has “exacerbated” health inequalities.

A protestor holds up a sign demanding justice for Belly Mujinga a black station worker who died of coronavirus after being spat on
Black Lives Matter protests for anti-racism in the UK

They warned historic discrimination may have left ethnic minorities less likely to go to the doctor for life-saving care.

The study states: “Historic racism and poorer experiences of healthcare or at work may mean that individuals in BAME groups are less likely to seek care when needed or as NHS staff are less likely to speak up when they have concerns about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or risk.”

The alarming findings come in the second of PHE’s two studies probing race and coronavirus.

Their earlier study found that people from ethnic minority groups are far more likely to die from Covid-19 than white people.

People of Bangladeshi ethnicity are around twice as likely to die from it.

Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean and Other Black ethnicities are 10 and 50 per cent more likely to die.

The latest report came after officials were blasted for failing to say why there is such a glaring divide, or come up with any recommendations for action.

The study said there is “deep dismay, anger, loss and fear” among BAME Brits at why their communities have been hardest hit by the devastating pandemic.

It states: “It is clear from discussions with stakeholders that Covid-19 in their view did not create health inequalities, but rather the pandemic exposed and exacerbated longstanding inequalities affecting BAME groups in the UK.”

It adds: “BAME groups tend to have poorer socioeconomic circumstances which lead to poorer health outcomes.”

“Data from the Office for National Statistics and Public Health England analysis confirmed the strong association between economic disadvantage and COVID-19 diagnoses, incidence and severe disease.

“Economic disadvantage is also strongly associated with the prevalence of smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension and their cardio-metabolic complications, which all increase the risk of disease severity.”

Health bosses called for more research into the divide, develop workplace assessments for BAME groups and push public health campaigns for BAME groups.