We are not all in this pandemic together – inequality is stealing so many lives

Coronavirus has magnified premature mortality in deprived communities. The data doesn’t lie, yet the government has done little to support the poor, writes Ian Hamilton

Staff give AstraZeneca vaccinations to patients at a Covid-19 centre, in various cities across the UK United Kingdom. (Getty Images)

We are not all in this pandemic together, for proof look no further than the latest data released by the Office for National Statistics. Stark geographical differences in deaths due to Covid-19 are apparent, the most deprived areas of England have mortality rates two and a half times those of the least deprived. 

Yorkshire and Humber recorded 320 deaths per 100,000 of the population compared to 123 deaths per 100,000 in the South West. The contrast for Wales is just as grim, the most deprived areas recorded 560 deaths per 100,000 compared to 285 per 100,000 in the least deprived.

The unequal results of contracting coronavirus have been observed since the early part of the pandemic, despite this little appears to have been done to acknowledge it let alone reduce it by politicians. The factors contributing to this inequality are not a mystery they don’t need an enquiry to be uncovered they are also well known.