Epping Forest research shows 'no BAME Covid -19 issues'

Following Public Health England’s (PHE) Covid-19 disparity review, the council (EFDC) has been looking into how coronavirus disproportionately effects different groups.

EFDC said it was working help adversely affected groups, highlighting its older than average population and higher than average number of vulnerable residents – but said initial research had not found “BAME issues”.

PHE’s review, released earlier this week, found people aged 80 and above were seventy times more likely to die than those under 40, while men made up 46 per cent of cases but almost 60 per cent of deaths and 70 per cent of intensive care admissions.

The risk of dying was also confirmed to be higher in BAME groups than in white ethnic groups.

People of Bangladeshi ethnicity were at most risk, with around twice the risk of death than people of white British ethnicity.

People of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, other Asian, Caribbean and other black ethnicity had between 10 per cent and 50 per cent higher risk of death when compared to white British.

The report described the relationship between ethnicity and coronavirus mortality as “complex and likely to be the result of a combination of factors”.

A spokesperson for Epping Forest District Council said: “It’s too early for us to draw too many conclusions. Health and welfare services are working hard to understand how the virus works within our communities so that we can better fight it now and protect the recovery.

“We’re receiving information from a variety of other organisations looking at the impact of coronavirus across the district. We are drilling down to see where we can make connections but our initial research hasn’t flagged up BAME issues.

“Our socio-demographic make-up, or in other words the age, ethnic diversity and economic circumstances of our residents tend to be different to our neighbouring London boroughs. In particular we have an older than average population and we had a higher than average number of residents in the most vulnerable category A group asked to shield early in the crisis. Levels of affluence and social deprivation in different parts of the district are also likely to play a part.”

“As we begin the cautious steps of reopening our communities, the information gathered will be crucial to protecting our residents for the long-term.”

Essex County Council has reviewed data on Covid-19 and rates of infection and death among BAME groups.

The research will “feed into” work being led by the Bishop of Colchester, the Rt Rev Roger Morris, to help affected communities, ECC says.

A spokesperson for Essex County Council added: “This week Professor Kevin Fenton, national director for health and wellbeing, Public Health England, presented the findings of a major national review into the disproportionate impacts of Covid-19 on BAME communities, and local government’s role in mitigating the risks. This will provide important insight into how the issue could be addressed in Essex and across the country going forward.”

“Research into the impacts of Covid-19 on BAME communities is in fact already being undertaken at the local level.”

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