Following the publication of Public Health England’s review
into the impact of Covid-19 on the BAME community on
2nd June, Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Women
and Equalities, , has called on the
government’s Race Disparity Unit to immediately publish
recommendations following the PHE’s Review into
Covid-19.
The review’s terms of reference, released on
4th May, said that the review would “suggest
recommendations for further action that should be taken to reduce
disparities in risk and outcomes from COVID-19”. However, the
review published yesterday gave no recommendations on how to
reduce the impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities.
At yesterday’s Government Coronavirus Briefing it was
confirmed that the Race Disparity Unit would be carrying out
further work in its response to the PHE Review and will publish
recommendations on its findings.
MP,
Labour’s Shadow Secretary for Women and
Equalities, calling on the government’s Race
Disparity Unit to immediately publish recommendations on the
impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, said:
“Yesterday’s review told us what we already know, that BAME
people and the most disadvantaged communities are
disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.
“But it failed to provide any recommendations on how to
reduce these disparities, leaving us with more questions than
answers. The Government must not wait any longer to address
underlying racial and socioeconomic injustices, so that no more
lives are lost.
“That is why Labour is calling on the Government’s Race
Disparity Unit to immediately publish recommendations, along with
a detailed action plan on how they will be implemented.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
· PHE’s
review into the impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities found that
people of Bangladeshi ethnicity were found to be at twice the
risk of death, and other BAME people between 10 and 50% greater
risk of dying. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-health-secretary-pledges-action-on-bame-covid-19-deaths-11999383
· The
terms of reference of the review published by Public Health
England early last month said the review aims to “suggest
recommendations for further action that should be taken to reduce
disparities in risk and outcomes from COVID-19 on the
population.” https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-into-factors-impacting-health-outcomes-from-covid-19
· Anger
as government takes no action to help BAME people at risk of
coronavirus: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/anger-government-takes-no-action-22136628
