People from Black and Asian ethnic groups at greater risk of dying from coronavirus

People from Black and Asian ethnic backgrounds are disproportionately more likely to die from Covid-19, new figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal.


For the first time, the data was adjusted for region, population density, socio-demographic and household characteristics.

The analysis found that men from Black ethnic backgrounds are twice as likely as White British males to die from Covid-19, while the risk of dying is 1.4 times greater for Black women than for White British women.

Men of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian ethnic backgrounds also had a significantly higher risk of death involving Covid-19 compared to White British men.

This analysis adds to growing evidence that Covid-19 is widening the health inequality gap. We argue it is time for the Government to take action now to protect the health of patients.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation and Consultant Cardiologist, said:

“Covid-19 is sometimes erroneously described as a leveller, but this virus in fact exacerbates existing health inequalities which particularly affect Black and Minority Ethnic groups, as these latest figures show.

“Evidence to date suggests that a wide range of biological and socioeconomic factors has contributed to a disproportionate number of Black and Asian people dying from Covid-19. BHF-funded research has already shown that compared to the White British population, specific ethnic groups are at greater risk of developing heart disease or its risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes, which are amongst the most common pre-existing health conditions in people who have died with the virus in England and Wales. For example, we know that people of African and African Caribbean background have higher rates of hypertension people and people of South Asian descent have higher rates of cardiovascular disease compared with other ethnic groups such as White British.

“In the face of mounting evidence, it is time for the Government to act now to address these health inequalities by implementing the recommendations of the recent Public Health England review. This is an important first step to protect the health of patients with Covid-19 both now and in the event of a second wave, as well as those with heart and circulatory diseases.”