Inquiry examines Covid’s impact

An inquiry by the Health Foundation charity has identified how inequalities both affected and were revealed by the Covid pandemic, including the fact that those younger than 65 in the poorest 10% of areas in England were almost four times more likely to die from the virus than those in the wealthiest ones. Deep-rooted issues such as poor health, increased financial insecurity and strained public services all left the UK and its people vulnerable to the coronavirus and its health and economic effects.

The charity believes that the recovery from the pandemic offers an opportunity to create a healthier, more resilient society. It says that the government must address the root causes of poor health and invest in people and their communities: their jobs, housing, education and communities. Ensuring the recovery improves health and the economy will require cross-government action to level up health, it says. This will pay dividends for the nation’s health and prosperity in the longer term.

https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/unequal-pandemic-fairer-recovery