Higher death rates in ‘deprived’ areas
PARTS of the South Wales Valleys have been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, new figures have shown.
Though the infection rate has dropped, the daily death toll of people with lab-confirmed coronavirus in Wales has reached 1,456 since the outbreak began, Public Health Wales
(PHW) said, although the actual number of deaths including those who did not die in hospitals or care homes is known to have surpassed 2,000 by the end of May.
The deaths of eight more people with Covid19 were reported in the latest 24 hours of figures, according to an update from Public Health Wales on Tuesday.
South Wales has been particularly badly affected compared to much of the country, according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics.
Porth East and Ynyshir, both in the Rhondda, have recorded 29 deaths across March, April and May, while Pontypridd West and Canton in
Cardiff each recorded 25 deaths.
Morriston, in Swansea, has seen 22 deaths, while Pillgwenlly, in Newport, has seen 21.
The community in North Wales with the most deaths is Rhyl North with 20.
A handful of locations, however, have recorded no deaths at all during the three-month period.
New Quay and Penbryn in Ceredigion, and Trelech, Cenarth and Llangeler, in Carmarthenshire, are among those to have recorded no coronavirusrelated deaths up until May.
As of Tuesday, the total number of cases in Wales has reached 14,869, according to Public
Health Wales.
The figures from the ONS show a clear link between deaths from Covid-19 and deprivation.
In Wales, the most deprived fifth of areas had 109.5 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 population, nearly twice as high as the least deprived areas (57.5 deaths per 100,000 population).
Dave Innes, head of economics at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Before the pandemic hit, there were signs that our record on tackling poverty and health inequalities was unravelling. Covid-19 has laid bare just how stark those inequalities are.
“It is completely unacceptable that someone’s life chances are so profoundly affected by where they live. Today’s statistics must act as a wake-up call – as a society with a strong sense of decency and compassion, we can and must do better.”
Over the three months, London had the overall highest mortality rate, with 137.6 deaths per 100,000 people – more than a third higher than the next- highest region.