Coronavirus UK: Disproportionate BAME deaths from Covid-19 subject of new Government review

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The Government is to launch a review into why people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds appear to be disproportionately affected by coronavirus.

Downing Street confirmed that the NHS and Public Health England will begin analysing the evidence, following pressure on ministers to launch an investigation.

While no date has been given on when the review will take place, the BBC has reported that Public Health England is to start recording coronavirus cases and deaths by ethnicity.

The latest figures released on Friday show that of 4,873 patients with Covid-19 in critical care, 1,681 were from the BAME community – accounting for 34.5 per cent of cases.

This is despite black and Asian people making up 10.8 per cent of the population, according to the 2011 UK census.

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