Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Secretary, commenting on the Office for National Statistics’ publication of data related to ‘Deaths involving COVID-19 by local area and deprivation’, said:

“This is a devastating confirmation that the virus thrives on inequality, with people living in more deprived areas seeing COVID-19 mortality rates more than double those in less deprived areas.

“Labour has long warned of shameful health inequalities which mean the poorest contract illness earlier in life and die sooner.

“COVID-19 exacerbates existing inequalities in our country. Ministers must target health inequalities with an overarching strategy to tackle the wider social determinants if ill health.”