Welsh Conservative Mohammad Asghar AM has welcomed an announcement by the Welsh Government that it will investigate the disproportionate effect of Covid-19 on people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
It comes a day after a doctors' association told BBC Wales high-risk workers from ethnic minorities could face "certain death" from Covid-19 (Coronavirus) without urgent action.
The UK Government launched a review after research suggested Coronavirus has a disproportionate impact on BAME people.
The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) said Wales should take steps “very quickly”.
Data from the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC) suggests 34 percent of critically ill coronavirus patients are from BAME backgrounds.
Professor Keshav Singhal, chairman of BAPIO Wales, said authorities needed to find out why these communities may be disproportionately affected:
He said:
“The end point is to mitigate this worrying trend.
“We know that certain risks are very high. So, a male, middle-aged BAME with concurrent diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, is absolutely high risk, putting them on the front line is almost condemning them to a certain death.”
Mr Asghar commented:
“Of course, every death from the terrible virus is a tragedy for the families of those who do not recover.
“However, if people who have factors that make them uniquely more vulnerable, then it is right to look into why this is happening, and what can be done to mitigate the risks faced.”
Source material:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52219070