Coronavirus is killing twice as many people in poor areas as rich ones, shock new figures show

Between March 1 and April 17, the poorest parts of England saw 55.1 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 population, compared with 25.3 deaths per 100,000 in the wealthiest areas.

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In Wales, the most deprived regions suffered 44.6 coronavirus deaths per 100,000 population - almost twice as many as the least deprived area with 23.2 deaths per 100,000 population.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), 90,232 people died in England and Wales between March 1 and 17 April 17, of which 20,283 were from coronavirus.

POOR HEALTH

The Covid-19 mortality rate was higher among men in the most deprived areas (76.7 deaths per 100,000 population) than it is for women (39.6).

Nick Stripe, Head of Health Analysis, Office for National Statistics, said: “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.”

When adjusting for size and age structure of the population, there were 36.2 deaths involving Covid-19 per 100,000 people in England and Wales.

The ONS found that in England the death rate from the bug in the most deprived areas was 118% higher than in the least deprived areas.

This is greater than the difference in the mortality rate for all deaths, which is 88% higher in the least deprived areas.

Explaining some of the causes behind the figures, Prof Sarah Harper, Clore Professor of Gerontology at the University of Oxford, said: “There are various reasons for these high levels of morbidity or ill health which are complex but seem related to environmental or life course factors such as stress, diet, smoking, exercise, education and mental wellbeing.

"These are in turn often related to economic factors, such as poverty."

CITY SPIKE

London had the highest age-standardised death rate with 85.7 coronavirus deaths per 100,000.

This was significantly higher than any other region and almost double the next highest rate.

The local authorities with the highest age-standardised coronavirus mortality rates were also all London Boroughs.

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Nick Stripe 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 four in ten 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, with Newham, Brent and Hackney suffering the highest rates of Covid-19-related deaths."

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