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Our response to Public Health England's COVID-19 disparities report

Figure 6.1 of the Public Health England report: relative increase in deaths by country of birth
Figure from Public Health England, Disparities in the risk and outcomes of COVID-19 (2020). Open Government Licence v3.0

When Public Health England published its review of disparities in the risks and outcomes of COVID-19 in June 2020, the BSMA noted that people of Somali origin had been placed in the West and Central African group, even though the report had a separate East African group. To us it suggested a significant lack of insight and relevant expertise.

We said we would write to Public Health England about the report. Much more work was needed to understand and address the very real disparities affecting our communities.