Impact of COVID-19 on the health of ethnic minorities in the UK -salient features and recouping strategies

COVID-19 has affected selected population groups, professions, and regions much more than others in terms of infection rate, hospital admission rate, and intensive care rate and then premature mortality rate. Globally, the seventh highest deaths due to COVID-19 (>155,000) have been experienced in the UK. The share of Black, Asia, and Ethnic Minorities (BAME) people in the UK is >20% with a high geographical concentration in major cities (London, Birmingham, and Manchester). Government statistics show that Black and Asian people represented disproportionately higher (>3 and 2 times, respectively) than white British in admission to Intensive & Emergency Care Units and resultant deaths due to Coronavirus. This chapter explores underlying reasons for differential impacts on BAME’s health and well-being including demographics, socioeconomic condition, health status/long-term conditions (LTCs), diet, and lifestyle. Compared with white British, the BAME people have higher prevalence of LTCs/obesity, lower health literacy, and living and working in most deprivation areas/occupations. These factors are important to plan for short- and long-term impact mitigation strategies to recoup BAME peoples’ health and well-being they enjoyed before the Pandemic. Two studies illustrate the Pandemic effect on: BAME access to organ transplants services, and racism experienced at workplace the National Health Services BAME staff.