Deaths from Covid-19 were more than double between during July in England in areas of deprivation according to figures released this morning by the Office of National Statistics.
The age-standardised mortality rate for deaths involving COVID-19 in the most deprived areas in July 2020 was 3.1 deaths per 100,000 population; as seen in previous months, this was more than double the mortality rate in the least deprived areas (1.4 deaths per 100,000 population).
Meanwhile the North-west of England had the highest coronavirus mortality rate for the month of July, but figures for all regions have decreased since the previous month.
There were 2.8 deaths involving Covid-19 per 100,000 of population for the North West, down from 9.2 in June, when it was also the region with the highest rate.
Responding to the ONS release of the latest data on deaths involving COVID-19 by local area and socioeconomic deprivation, Health Foundation Chief Executive, Dr Jennifer Dixon, said:
‘These data make sobering reading. They show people living in the most disadvantaged areas of the UK are 2.2 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than those in the least disadvantaged areas.
‘Sadly, this is nothing new. In more ordinary times, the poorest among us were almost twice as likely to die on any given day than the richest. It was bad for your health to be poor before the pandemic; COVID-19 has made it even worse. Much ill health is avoidable.
‘Today’s figures make it plain that the Government has a huge task ahead to begin closing this health gap, which is growing. ‘Levelling up’ the nation’s health will only happen if there is a coordinated strategy to tackle it. Most importantly such a strategy should address core underlying risks that erode health such as poverty, unemployment and low quality employment, poor housing and family breakdown.’
