A soldier at a drive-in Covid-19 testing centre in Scotland. AFP
A soldier at a drive-in Covid-19 testing centre in Scotland. AFP
A soldier at a drive-in Covid-19 testing centre in Scotland. AFP
A soldier at a drive-in Covid-19 testing centre in Scotland. AFP

Health experts grapple with ethnicity question with Covid-19 deaths and infections


Paul Peachey
  • English
  • Arabic

Public health experts around the world are grappling with the question of why minority ethnic people appear more likely to become victims of Covid-19, but there are few signs the answers will come quickly.

UK authorities have started tracking cases by ethnicity to try to understand the reasons behind the apparent disparity. The government has ordered a review led by a public health expert.

The numbers are most marked within the country's state-run health service and social services, where the deaths of more than 100 workers and shortages of protective equipment have put the government under pressure to respond.

Nearly two thirds of deaths from fatalities within the health service are from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds, an analysis published by the Health Service Journal shows.

Only one in five workers in the National Health Service are from the ethnic minorities, it said.

Other research suggests that ethnic minorities in the UK are worse hit than other sections of the population but the figures are less stark than among healthcare workers.

Hospital data from intensive care units in England, Wales and Northern Ireland suggests that 34 per cent of the most seriously ill were from those backgrounds.

UK census data from 2011 suggests that these minorities only make up 14 per cent of the population in England and Wales.

“Initial reports suggest there could be a disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, in particular health and care professionals and other key workers,” said the UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof Chris Whitty.

The question of why has yet to be answered.

The illness is already known to have a disproportionately large impact on men and the elderly.

British authorities have called for researchers to propose new studies on ethnicity by May 11 to fill the gap in data.

A study published by The Lancet  last week found that none of the 10 countries with the highest numbers of Covid-19 cases reported data related to ethnicity.

Researchers led by Manish Pareek, from the department of respiratory sciences at the University of Leicester, said the omission seemed stark in the UK, given the high numbers of health service deaths.

“If ethnicity is found to be associated with adverse Covid-19 outcomes, this must directly, and urgently, inform public health interventions globally,” their research said.

Researchers suggest there may be several factors including genetic, cultural and religious differences and environmental issues.

Some ethnic groups are known to be at greater risks of some diseases, such as diabetes and heart problems, which put them at risk of dying from Covid-19.

One consultancy brought in to advise public health experts has highlighted flaws in some of the key theories to explain the differences in death rates between communities.

Trevor Phillips, the former head of an equalities body who is on the UK government’s advisory panel, said there was “little reliable” information on the topic.

The rudimentary data showed that 13 of 17 Covid-19 hotspots had higher than average numbers of non-white residents.

Yet he cited the comparatively low level of coronavirus infections in Tower Hamlets, a London borough with the highest proportion of Pakistani and Bangladeshi Muslim residents.

It compared with high rates of infection in some areas where minorities were dominated by those of Indian descent.

Mr Phillips was criticised by some MPs for airing one theory that repeated handwashing before prayers among Muslim communities could have decreased the risk from coronavirus infection.

He also raised the question of whether some groups were more at risk because their jobs put them in greater danger, such as Indian doctors or ethnic minority bus drivers.

About half of transport staff in London are white and 26 per cent from black and ethnic minority backgrounds, says a 2018 report by their employer, Transport for London.

It confirmed on Wednesday that 35 transport staff had died from Covid-19.

The death rate, one for every 800 employees, is three times that of the general population, government figures show.

The Nuffield Trust health think tank suggested that the differences in deaths between ethnic groups was not so stark as the figures suggested.

Cases are greater in the country’s two biggest cities, London and Birmingham, which have higher rates of ethnic minorities. Forty per cent of Londoners have those backgrounds.

When the trust carried out analysis to reflect the uneven distribution of cases, “the apparent excess [ethnic] deaths due to Covid-19 disappears", researchers Theo Georghiou and John Appleby wrote in a blog.

Ukraine%20exports
%3Cp%3EPresident%20Volodymyr%20Zelenskyy%20has%20overseen%20grain%20being%20loaded%20for%20export%20onto%20a%20Turkish%20ship%20following%20a%20deal%20with%20Russia%20brokered%20by%20the%20UN%20and%20Turkey.%3Cbr%3E%22The%20first%20vessel%2C%20the%20first%20ship%20is%20being%20loaded%20since%20the%20beginning%20of%20the%20war.%20This%20is%20a%20Turkish%20vessel%2C%22%20Zelensky%20said%2C%20adding%20exports%20could%20start%20in%20%22the%20coming%20days%22%20under%20the%20plan%20aimed%20at%20getting%20millions%20of%20tonnes%20of%20Ukrainian%20grain%20stranded%20by%20Russia's%20naval%20blockade%20to%20world%20markets.%3Cbr%3E%22Our%20side%20is%20fully%20prepared%2C%22%20he%20said.%20%22We%20sent%20all%20the%20signals%20to%20our%20partners%20--%20the%20UN%20and%20Turkey%2C%20and%20our%20military%20guarantees%20the%20security%20situation.%22%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EElggo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20August%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Luma%20Makari%20and%20Mirna%20Mneimneh%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Education%20technology%20%2F%20health%20technology%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESize%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Four%20employees%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-seed%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

The figures behind the event

1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew

2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show

3) 1,000 social distancing stickers

4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

How to come clean about financial infidelity
  • Be honest and transparent: It is always better to own up than be found out. Tell your partner everything they want to know. Show remorse. Inform them of the extent of the situation so they know what they are dealing with.
  • Work on yourself: Be honest with yourself and your partner and figure out why you did it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for professional help. 
  • Give it time: Like any breach of trust, it requires time to rebuild. So be consistent, communicate often and be patient with your partner and yourself.
  • Discuss your financial situation regularly: Ensure your spouse is involved in financial matters and decisions. Your ability to consistently follow through with what you say you are going to do when it comes to money can make all the difference in your partner’s willingness to trust you again.
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Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
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Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Scoreline

Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)

New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)

RACE CARD

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m