Jewish group backs inquiry into ‘disproportionate impact’ of virus on minorities

A Jewish human rights group in the UK has welcomed an inquiry into the “disproportionate impact” that the coronavirus pandemic has had on people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities.

The Jewish Council for Racial Equality (JCORE) said it was “concerned” that death rates among BAME individuals, including health workers, seemed considerably higher, as the Government announced that NHS England and Public Health England would jointly lead work looking at why.

Some analysts have suggested that demographics and socio-economic factors may be a factor, with Black, Asian and ethnic minority families more likely to live in urban over-crowded accommodation, or more likely to smoke.

JCORE said: “We urge the government to ensure that full consultation is carried out with BAME communities on the scope and membership of the inquiry, so that these communities can have complete confidence in the process, findings and outcome of such an inquiry.”