Black Britons almost twice as likely to die from coronavirus than white counterparts

Study by Office for National Statistics shows impact of Covid-19 ethnic minorities in England and Wales can only be partly explained by factors such as age, deprivation and disability

Black men and women are almost twice as likely to die from coronavirus when compared with white people, a new analysis by the Office for National Statistics has found.

The study, published today, shows that after accounting for age, wealth and factors such as disability, the risk of death for black men and women who contract Covid-19 was 1.9 times more likely than white men and women.

The ONS study shows similar results for men from Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic groups who were were 1.8 times more likely die than white males. For women from the same ethnic backgrounds, the risk of death was 1.6 times more likely.

The ONS said: “These results show that the difference between ethnic groups in Covid-19 mortality is partly a result of socioeconomic disadvantage and other circumstances, but a remaining part of the difference has not yet been explained.”

When accounting for age only, black men and women were more than four times more likely to die from Covid-19 compared with white men and women.

People of Bangladeshi and Pakistani, Indian, and mixed ethnicities also had statistically significant raised risk of death, the ONS said.

The study will underline concerns that the coronavirus pandemic is worsening health inequalities across the UK. A study by the ONS last week showed deaths from coronavirus were twice as likely in the most deprived areas of the country.

Labour’s shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth has called on the government to target efforts at reducing the impact of coronavirus on poorer areas.

Helen Barnard, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: ​“Today’s figures are a stark reminder that although we are all weathering the same storm, we are not all in the same boat.

“People from black and minority ethnic backgrounds are more likely to live in deprived areas, employed in low-paid jobs where they cannot work from home. We know that both these factors increase the risk of catching coronavirus.

“Workers from Bame communities are also more likely to live in overcrowded homes, increasing the risk for their families too. We entered the crisis with millions of people locked in poverty, struggling against a rising tide of low pay, insecure jobs and spiralling living costs.

“With the Bank of England now forecasting the deepest recession on record, we must ask ourselves what kind of society we want to live in after the virus passes. It doesn’t have to be like this – as a society that prides itself on justice and compassion we can and must do better.”

The ONS study today looked at Covid-19 deaths between 2 March and 10 April, using the 2011 census data to account for socio-demographic factors and identifying the ethnicity of people who had died.

It said the proportion of deaths occurring among those of white ethnicity was 84 per cent, while the largest minority ethnic group was black, with 6 per cent dying. People of an Indian background accounted for 3 per cent of all deaths.

“Differences in the risk of dying from the coronavirus across ethnic groups may be driven by differences in a group’s demographic and socioeconomic profile,” the ONS said. “Existing evidence indicates that most ethnic minority groups tend to be more disadvantaged than their white counterparts.

“Differences in the risk of dying from Covid-19 across ethnic groups may be related to demographic and socioeconomic factors as well as to a person’s past health profile. Differences in these characteristics and what they may imply for current circumstances may also be associated with the probability of being infected or the risk of death once infected.”

In its analysis the ONS calculated risk and considered factors including the region, rural and urban classification, area deprivation, household composition, socioeconomic position, highest qualification held, household tenure, and health or disability.

The ONS suggested some ethnic groups could be at risk due to other factors such as their jobs. For example, it said individuals in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic group are more likely to work as transport operatives and could be at greater risk of infection. The ONS is planning to study the risk of different occupations in the future.

Responding to the ONS report, Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said: “Every death from this virus is a tragedy. We are aware that this virus has sadly appeared to have a disproportionate effect on people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

A separate study, by University College London, found people from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities were two to three times more likely to die from coronavirus.

Scientists found the risk of death was lower for white populations in England.

After accounting for region and age, the risk of death for white British was 12 per cent lower than that of the general population and white Irish was half.

Co-author Dr Delan Devakumar, of the UCL Institute for Global Health, said: “Rather than being an equaliser, this work shows that mortality with Covid-19 is disproportionately higher in black, Asian and minority ethnic groups.

“It is essential to tackle the underlying social and economic risk factors and barriers to healthcare that lead to these unjust deaths.”

Published in Wellcome Open Research, the study used NHS data of patients with a positive Covid-19 test who died hospitals in England from 1 March to 21 April this year.