Most deprived Scots twice as likely to die of coronavirus

People living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are twice as likely to die of coronavirus while more women than men have died, bucking international trends, according to the latest official statistics.

The National Records of Scotland figures published yesterday show that people in the most deprived areas are 2.1 times more likely to die with Covid-19 than those living in the least deprived areas of the country. The statistics also show the highest number of deaths involving Covid-19 are of people aged between 20 and 64 who work in factories as machine operatives.

Further, they show that 16,239 women have died from coronavirus compared with 16,105 men – despite most studies showing that men were far more likely to be affected by and subsequently die from Covid-19. The highest rate of deaths among women are among those aged 85 and older.

And of those who died with coronavirus in May, 92 per cent had at least one preexisting health condition, most commonly dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, which accounted for 38 per cent of all deaths, followed by ischaemic heart disease which account for 11 per cent.

Concerns have already been raised over the high number of Black, Asian and other ethnic minority people who have contracted the virus.

Scottish Labour said there was a “clear class divide” in how people were being affected by the virus. MSP Rhoda Grant, said: “That class plays such a role in determining the likelihood of someone dying from coronavirus is disgraceful and should shame us all.

“Those who live in the most deprived areas are those that need the support and protection of the government the most. Today’s statistics suggest that the government has failed to keep the most vulnerable in our society safe.

“This pandemic has laid bare the inequalities that persist in our society with the poorest, the vulnerable and ethnic minorities bearing the brunt of the virus.

“Scottish Labour calls on the government to do what it can to protect the most vulnerable in our society and is ready and willing to help in any way we can.”

Emma Ritch, of the feminist organisation Engender, said that women had been “hardest hit in many ways” by the pandemic. She added: “Women are more likely to be in low-wage frontline jobs, more likely to be in precarious work unsupported by the furlough scheme, and more likely to take on the bulk of childcare and home schooling responsibilities.

“These figures show both how important it is to collect data on how coronavirus affects women, but also the need for a gendered response to the crisis. The virus may not discriminate against women, but society does and we need to ensure that Scotland’s recovery – in healthcare, society and our economy – has women’s equality at its heart.”

And Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-hamilton MSP said: “This pandemic is having a severe and disproportionate impact on those in Scotland’s most deprived areas.

“We have continually pressed for an expansion of testing so that people know that they will be able to come forward and get tested, as well as local breakdowns in order to get a clear picture of where the virus is and how it is moving through the population. The Scottish Government must provide this local data.”

A breakdown of the statistics by geographical location also indicated a marked contrast between cities and countryside. Large urban areas had a death rate more than four times higher than remote rural locations.