Omission of air pollution from report on Covid-19 and race ‘astonishing’

Failure to consider dirty air as a factor in higher death toll among ethnic minorities wholly irresponsible, say critics

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The failure to consider air pollution as a factor in the higher rates of coronavirus deaths among minority ethnic groups is astonishing" and wholly irresponsible", according to critics of a Public Health England review.

The PHE report released on Tuesday confirmed the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on people from ethnic minorities but did not mention air pollution. Minorities in the UK, US and elsewhere are known to generally experience higher levels of air pollution, and there is growing evidence around the world linking exposure to dirty air exposure to increased coronavirus infections and deaths.