Non-white Britons more at risk of COVID-19 death, report reveals

The UK government has published a report showing that black people are the most common ethnic group to be diagnosed with COVID-19, while people of Bangladeshi ethnicity have a 50 percent greater risk of dying from the disease compared with white British people.

The 89-page report, titled Disparities in the risk and outcomes of Covid-19, was commissioned by the UK health secretary, Matt Hancock, last month and explores how the virus affects different demographic groups.

The UK government has published a report exploring the impact of COVID-19 on different demographics after data showed that black, Asian and minority ethnic Britons, including NHS staff and care workers, have died at a disproportionate rate during the pandemic. /AP

The study also found that people of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, other Asian, Caribbean and other black ethnicities had between a 10 and 50 percent higher risk of mortality compared with white Britons.

The release of the report comes after the government came under fierce criticism on Monday for failing to meet its publication deadline of 31 May.

Ministers had promised to publish the report by the end of May after data suggested black, Asian and minority ethnic Britons, including NHS staff and care workers, have died at a disproportionate rate during the pandemic.

- Department of Health and Social Care report

As well as race, the study also intended to find out whether other factors, such as age and obesity, make people more vulnerable to COVID-19.

That deadline was missed, leading to widespread criticism on Monday, which prompted a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care [DHSC] to release a statement promising to publish the report this week.

In response, shadow equalities secretary, Marsha de Cordova, hit out at the apparent lack of urgency from the government to give BAME families the insight they need.

"It is unacceptable that this review should be delayed without a given date for its publication. BAME communities need answers."

A report from Sky News UK claimed the decision not to publish the report was made to avoid adding to racial tension following the protests across the U.S. and Europe following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

But the DHSC issued a denial on Monday, adding: "It is not true to say this has been delayed due to global events."

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