Emerging evidence has begun to explain why Covid-19 affects some minority ethnic groups more than others. Here’s what we know.
3 Jul 2020 | Facts and news from Full Fact
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** What we know about Covid-19 inequalities among people from minority ethnic backgrounds
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Last month, Public Health England published a review showing that people from minority ethnic groups are more likely to get severely ill and die from Covid-19 than those from the White population in the UK.
Some minority ethnic groups might be more exposed to the virus as they are more likely to live in densely populated areas. They’re also more likely to work in occupations like health and social care.
The spread of coronavirus has also been more rapid in cities and in areas with higher deprivation. People from minority ethnicities are statistically more likely to live in these areas, and are also more likely to live in crowded housing and multi-generational households. In these circumstances, social distancing is more challenging.
Health conditions including diabetes, heart conditions, kidney disease and obesity, are also more prevalent in some minority ethnic groups—and these conditions put people at a higher risk of severe Covid-19.
We’ve looked at what is known and, perhaps more importantly, what is still unknown about inequalities in Covid-19 outcomes across minority ethnic groups in the UK.
We take a deep dive into the figures ([link removed])
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** We haven’t found evidence that suicides have increased by 200% under lockdown ([link removed])
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On Monday, a number of celebrities and other public figures shared a tweet claiming suicides have increased 200% under lockdown.
However, we can currently find no evidence to support this claim. It is unclear where this statistic has come from, or how the information would already be available.
The Office for National Statistics does record statistics on suicide, but the most recent full release for the UK covers 2018. There are no figures available since lockdown began in March.
Samaritans told Full Fact they currently have no evidence of a rise in suicide rates, but that they are available around the clock on 116 123 or by emailing
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Here’s what Samaritans told us ([link removed])
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** Covid-19 study that links deaths to low vitamin D levels is flawed ([link removed])
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The Mail Online and the Daily Express have claimed a new study has found that 99% of Covid-19 patients who are deficient in vitamin D die. But this conclusion cannot be made based on what is reported in the study.
It is true that among participants with deficient vitamin D levels in the study, 99% died. However, the vitamin D-deficient group in this study were also far older and far more likely to have underlying health conditions.
Because these risk factors, and others like ethnicity and obesity weren’t accounted for in the study, we can’t tell whether vitamin D deficiency does affect a patient's likelihood of dying from Covid-19.
There is no strong evidence at present to suggest that vitamin D helps to prevent or limit Covid-19 illness.
Where has the study gone? ([link removed])
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This week, we take a look at the similarities between coronavirus misinformation in the UK and other European countries—and why the same false claims have spread easily between countries.
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** Also this week...
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* The UK has had one of Europe’s worst Covid-19 outbreaks ([link removed])
* Bill Gates does not own the vaccine to or the patent for Covid-19 ([link removed])
* ...And his charitable foundation was not ‘kicked out of India’, as claimed on Facebook ([link removed])
* Viral Facebook post by a ‘Serena Williams’ was not written by the Serena Williams ([link removed])
* And no, The Lord’s Prayer has not been banned from Facebook ([link removed])
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