Covid-19 mortality rate twice as high in deprived areas

The mortality rate from Covid-19 has been found to be twice as high in deprived areas than in more affluent zones, new data from the Office for National Statistics revealed.

The ONS found that, in the most deprived areas of England, the age-standardised mortality rate of deaths involving Covid-19 was 55.1 deaths per 100,000 people, compared to just 25.3 deaths per 100,000 in the least deprived areas.

Wales saw a similar disparity in deaths – a mortality rate of 44.6 deaths per 100,000 in deprived areas, compared to 23.2 in well-off areas.

However, the local authorities with the highest age-standardised mortality rates for Covid-19 deaths were all in London.

In Newham, there were 144.3 deaths per 100,000 of the population – the highest mortality rate in the ONS data for any local authority.

It was followed by Brent, which had a rate of 141.5 deaths per 100,000, and Hackney, with a rate of 127.4 deaths per 100,000.

Highest mortality rates all London boroughs

Nick Stripe, head of health analysis at the ONS, said: “By mid-April, the region with the highest proportion of deaths involving Covid-19 was London, with the virus being involved in more than 4 in 10 deaths since the start of March.

“In contrast, the region with the lowest proportion of Covid-19 deaths was the south-west, which saw just over one in 10 deaths involving coronavirus. The 11 local authorities with the highest mortality rates were all London boroughs.

“People living in more deprived areas have experienced Covid-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but so far Covid-19 appears to be taking them higher still.”

Clear disparity between ethnic groups

The statistics have been revealed as a study by the Institute for Fiscal studies found Coronavirus fatalities among black and minority ethnic (BAME) groups are also disproportionately high.

Per capita deaths among the Black Caribbean population in English hospitals are three times those of white British people.

The study also found BAME men are more likely to be in jobs affected by the shutdown of large parts of the economy.

Jack Peat

Jack is a business and economics journalist and the founder of The London Economic (TLE). He has contributed articles to VICE, Huffington Post and Independent and is a published author. Jack read History at the University of Wales, Bangor and has a Masters in Journalism from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne.