Sharpening the global focus on ethnicity and race in the time of COVID-19

Type Journal Article Author Neeraj Bhala Author Gwenetta Curry Author Adrian R Martineau Author Charles Agyemang Author Raj Bhopal URL https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(20)31102-8.pdf Series The Lancet Comment Volume 395 Publication The Lancet Date 08/05/2020 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/ S0140-6736(20)31102-8 Language en Abstract Data on COVID-19 cases and deaths are plentiful, but detailed data on COVID-19by age, sex, or ethnicity/race are scant but should be available routinely and automatically.4 In the UK, collection of data by ethnicity in hospitals is mandatory5–8andin the USA the National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act requires the publication of data by race/ethnicity and sex by federal agencies.9 The UK’s Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre reported on May 1, 2020, that 2300 (34%) of 6770 critically ill COVID-19 patients were from ethnic/racial minority groups.10 For comparison, the 2011 census shows that ethnic minority groups made up about 14% of the UK population.