MORNING SERIAL
LOCATION is also of significance. Analysis of data from the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (summarised excellently in a paper by Scott Clifford) found that almost 11% of the people living in the most deprived 10% of small areas in Wales were from a BAME background, which was double the proportion of BAME people in the total population. At the other end of the scale, a mere 3.3% of people living in the least deprived 50% of small areas were BAME.
An appalling 34.9% of people from a black ethnic background were living in the most deprived 10% of small areas. These people are more likely to die from the disease, with the ONS evaluation of Covid-19 deaths by local area and socio-economic deprivation (from the start of March to end of May) showing that the most deprived areas’ mortality rate for coronavirus deaths was 109.5 deaths per 100,000 population, almost twice as high as the mortality rate for the least deprived areas of Wales (57.5 deaths per 100,000 population).
As we discussed in Chapter 12, there were also genetic factors that likely contributed to the higher mortality rates among BAME people as well as higher incidence of obesity, with black adults the most likely of all ethnic groups to be overweight or obese.
To their credit, authorities in Wales were quick to recognise the increased risk the virus posed to people of colour. On April 21 Vaughan Gething said in a written statement that “there is growing evidence Covid-19 infection is having a disproportionate impact on people with BAME backgrounds” and that “many of the health or social care workers who have sadly died... were from BAME backgrounds”. He added that as “we do not fully understand the reasons for such impact... an urgent investigation is required to understand the factors involved”. Subsequently the First Minister Mark Drakeford launched an investigation which, showing the Welsh Government’s trademark flair for creativity and branding, came up with the “All-Wales Covid-19 Workforce Risk Assessment Tool”.
Lockdown Wales by Will Hayward £9.99 www.serenbooks.com/ productdisplay/lockdown-wales ISBN 9781781726013
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