People from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities are more likely to catch coronavirus and die from it, according to a report from Public Health England.
Its figures show that, after accounting for the effect of sex, age, deprivation and region, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity had around twice the risk of death when compared with people of white British ethnicity.
People of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, other Asian, Caribbean and other black ethnicity had between 10 and 50 per cent higher risk of death when compared to white British people.
Cllr James Jamieson, LGA Chairman, said it would work with councils to make sure the report’s lessons are learned and acted upon, adding: “We know councils are wholly committed to ensuring that no one in their communities is left behind or cannot be supported to combat the effects of this dreadful virus.”
Meanwhile, the Equality and Human Rights Commission is undertaking an inquiry into the impact of COVID-19 on ethnic minorities, which will develop clear, evidence-based recommendations for urgent action to tackle entrenched racial inequalities.
David Isaac, Equality and Human Rights Commission Chair, said: “This inquiry is part of our long-term strategic approach to tackle the structural inequalities that the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare. This is an important step towards ensuring that the deep-rooted inequality faced by ethnic minorities is meaningfully addressed as we rebuild.”
Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch is overseeing a government commission addressing inequality in the UK.
Councils across the country have pledged to review monuments and statues after the pulling down of a statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston. The LGA has issued an advice note for councils to help them ensure all sections of the community feel heard by decision-makers as part of such reviews, see www.local.gov.uk/topics/community-safety/statues