Covid in Mid Sussex: This is why people in vulnerable communities are more likely to get coronavirus

Health analytics firm Surgo Ventures said though much of the country is preparing to ‘move on’ from Covid-19 the disease will continue to inflict disproportionate harm on the most vulnerable communities across England.

The British Red Cross charity has developed a Covid-19 Vulnerability Index to identify which English neighbourhoods have been the most vulnerable during the pandemic, by analysing health outcomes for those clinically at risk, those with health or wellbeing needs, the economically vulnerable and the socially isolated.

Using the measure, Surgo Ventures compared coronavirus case numbers in the eight neighbourhoods identified as the most vulnerable in Mid Sussex, against the nine least vulnerable between March 2020 and July this year.

It found that people in these vulnerable areas were 28 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19 over the period than those living in non-vulnerable communities – though data was only available for 34 of the 71 possible weeks.

This inequality peaked during the seven days to May 07 2020 – when people in vulnerable areas were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19.

In the seven days to July 8 – the latest week analysed – there was 14 per cent more likelihood of having Covid-19 in the most vulnerable communities than in the least vulnerable.

Surgo Ventures said people in vulnerable neighbourhoods across the UK were more likely to contract Covid-19 than people elsewhere for the vast majority of the past year.

As of July 11, they were 28 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with the disease – with this figure peaking at 166 per cent in September last year, when the virus was not as widespread across the country.

They have also been more likely to be hospitalised and die from coronavirus.

Dr Sema K Sgaier, chief executive of Surgo Ventures, said more needs to be done to address the sustained negative health and socioeconomic impact of the pandemic on people in need.

She added: “Although we are all ready to move on, reopen, and be done with Covid-19, the data shows that Covid-19 is not done inflicting disproportionate harm on the UK’s most vulnerable communities.”

The Health Foundation said vulnerable people’s health had been declining in recent years as a result of ‘sustained underinvestment’ in public services, and other aspects of society.

Adam Tinson, senior analyst at the charity, said high levels of overcrowding, home working and financial insecurity have made isolating more difficult, and worsened the effects of the pandemic.

And he warned that disadvantaged areas will continue to see the harshest impacts as “Freedom Day” on July 19 approaches, when most social restrictions in England are set to end.

Mr Tinson added: “The Government must ensure adequate support for those who are sick or need to isolate, and increase the financial resilience of those who have been impacted by restrictions – for example, by retaining the temporary increase for Universal Credit.

“The Government has promised to ‘level up’ the country but to level up health they must address the root causes of poor health and invest in people and their communities – their jobs, housing, education and communities.”

A Government spokeswoman said help was available for those in need, and a ‘cautious approach’ was being taken with the roadmap.

She added: “Any death is a tragedy and we know Covid-19 has had a disproportionate impact on certain groups, including people living in deprived areas.

“The vaccines are saving lives and building a wall of protection against the disease, having severely weakened the link between cases and hospitalisations.”