Covid-19 BAME and Working-class Communities
2020-05-06
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Q1
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Context
Covid-19 has had a significant impact on various communities, particularly BAME and those from lower-income backgrounds.
According to ONS figures, the coronavirus mortality rate in the most deprived areas is more than twice that of least deprived areas. Those on lower incomes are also more likely to be in frontline occupations and infection rates in the north-east are the highest in the country. What specific measures is the Minister taking to address this disproportionate impact?
The Government has asked Public Health England to review covid-19 outcomes among different groups. The hon. Member is right, we are increasingly concerned about deaths in deprived areas which were more than twice as high. We have taken measures such as protecting incomes and jobs, supporting businesses, and looking at universal credit and statutory sick pay to ensure communities are protected from adverse impacts of lockdown.
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