There have been renewed calls for the UK Government to take real action to protect BAME communities from COVID 19.
New figures released by the ONS show that the rate of deaths for black males was over three times greater than that for white males of the same age, while the rate for black females was more than twice as great than for white females.
Men of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indian ethnic backgrounds also were found to be one and a half times more likely to die than their white counterparts, after adjustments were made for population characteristics.
The ONS’s analysis also found that Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Sikh people all have higher risks of death.
In recent weeks the GMB trade union has been highly critical of the government’s failure to protect BAME workers from COVID19, with the latest figures a real wake up call.
Rehana Azam, GMB national secretary said: “Why is it that if you are from a black, Asian, and minority ethnic background, are you still more likely to be killed by coronavirus?
“We’ve known this for weeks, and yet still no major action has taken place to protect BAME communities by government.
“These figures are a huge wake up call. The time for talking is over. We don’t need further data or consultations. We need action from the government, and we need it now.”
British Medical Association (BMA) council chair Dr Chaand Nagpaul has also demanded the Government address the effect of COVID-19 on BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities – calling for immediate timelines for action plans instead of further consultations and reviews.
Dr Nagpaul asked the Government to implement the recommendations from a recent PHE (Public Health England) review urgently.
Dr Nagpaul said: ‘Our view as a profession, and my view, is that we’ve had enough reports, we’ve had enough reviews, we’ve had previous commissions. We know what the problems are.
“What we now need is an action plan. That’s what we asked for from the publication of the PHE review so each of those recommendations now needs to be populated with timescales of action plans and what needs to be done.
“Remember, the Government commissioned the PHE review – as the commissioner it now needs to respond not with some other commission but really with what is going to be done now. We’ve discussed many of the issues can be addressed very quickly and others may take some time. That’s what needs to happen.”
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, said: “Across the globe, racial injustice has always had a devastating impact on society, and coronavirus has demonstrated the deadly consequences of when racial inequalities go unchecked.
“These findings are yet more evidence of the need for urgent action on this issue. But instead we have seen denial and delay from the Government.”
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What practical action is the GMB doing to protect it’s BAME members.
Where is the GMB’s action plan for protecting it’s BAME members?
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