Government accused of ‘burying’ report linking ‘historic racism’ to high number of BAME Covid-19 deaths

HISTORIC racism has contributed to a high number of black and ethnic minority (BAME) people dying from coronavirus, according to a leaked report.
Public Health England’s (PHE) report says that “historic racism and poorer experiences of healthcare or at work” could result in BAME groups being reluctant to seek care or speak up about concerns over a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The leak, revealed by the BBC on Saturday, comes after the publication of a PHE review earlier this month confirming that BAME communities are more at risk from the virus.
More from this author

In an exclusive investigation, BETHANY RIELLY looks at how the state targeted leading politicians and campaigning groups — labelling many well-known figures 'extremists' and 'subversives' for attempting to hold the police to account

On September 4, 16 Eritrean asylum-seekers were arrested at a protest against their country’s dictatorship and its supporters here. Since then, questions have been raised about whether the British authorities are doing enough to protect activists and asylum-seekers from the ‘long arm’ of the regime in Asmara