Ministers Under Pressure To Publish Delayed BAME Coronavirus Review

The government is under pressure to publish the findings of an inquiry into the impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minorities.

Image credit, Sky News

Public Health England (PHE) was called upon to investigate how factors such as ethnicity, deprivation, age and gender affected people’s vulnerability to the virus.

The report was due to be released by the end of last month. However, PHE announced yesterday the report would be released “shortly” but without confirmation of a release date.

It has been argued by "government sources" that the report had been held back, due to the "close proximity to the current situation in America".

Image credit, Vox

The murder of George Floyd, a Black man, in Minneapolis which has led widespread protests across the United States.

Having said that, the report is expected to be published this week. Research by University College London, found people from England’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are two-to-three times more likely to die from Covd-19 than the general population.

Keir Starmer, Labour leader tweeted: "BAME communities have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19. We need the findings of this review published and action taken now."

Donna Kinnair, the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, said: "The Public Health England review must be published as a matter of urgency.

"Every day we go without knowing why BAME health and care staff are disproportionately affected by Covid-19 is another day these workers are needlessly put at extra risk.

Kinnair added: "UK governments must move quickly to develop clear, cross-governmental strategy and costed action plans to tackle racial disparities across society."