Covid 19 hits the poorest in Blackburn with Darwen

A study commissioned by Balckburn with Darwen Director of Public Health, Professor Dominic Harrison, highlights th stark difference between rich and poor and how they ae affected by the Covid 19 disease. From 10-27 July, 80% of cases were in the poorest 30% of the borough. In the same period period33% were in the poorest 10% of the borough and there were no cases in the richest 10%.. Prof. Harrison highlighted that these figures relate to cases not deaths and were unlikely to translate into similar mortatlity risks.

He said, "This analysis gives us further insights as to the risk factors driving the community transmission of Covid-19 in the borough. We also know from this analysis that 41.8 per cent of all cases are now in people under the age of 30.They are much less likely than older people to escalate into critical care if infected - although they can be very ill indeed. For this reason I do not think the higher infection rates in less wealthy communities will translate into higher mortality rates. For both those on lower incomes and of working age, we must conclude that they are more 'risk exposed'. They will be more likely to be in frontline jobs in the NHS, social care, food processing, distribution and transport - jobs that bring them into contact with more people.

"This data confirms that the virus has exacerbated wider inequalities in health. The root cause is inequality itself. Covid-19 has made inequality more visible than before - we urgently need investment in the North."