'Behind each tragic death there is a pattern. These findings, along with previous ONS studies, show that Covid-19 is not a leveller as some have claimed. It has a disproportionate impact on those living in the poorest parts of our country as well as those from BAME backgrounds. Compared to white ethnicity males and females, Black males and females are over four times, and Bangladeshi and Pakistani men and women over three times more likely to die from a COVID-19-related death.

'It is tragic proof that the underlying conditions of health inequality and poverty in our country have put those who are most disadvantaged at much greater risk of death during this pandemic. If any good can come from this crisis, it must be a renewed commitment to sweep away poverty and the inequalities in health, education and employment that give rise to these outcomes.

'The ONS reports something else which is even more worrying: even taking into account social, economic and cultural disparities, there is still a small but significant increased likelihood of a BAME person dying of COVID-19 than a white person.

'The ONS says this is unexplained. I am calling on Ministers to keep collecting the data and monitoring the patterns by ethnicity and economic background of who is dying from this terrible disease. Our scientists can then properly investigate what is happening in order to develop urgent action plans to protect those most at risk.'

 

• Read more about the ONS findings by clicking here.