Mitigating ethnic disparities in covid-19 and beyond

Abstract

The disproportionate effect of covid-19 on ethnic minorities in some high income countries throws into sharp relief the effects of racism on health. On almost all health measures, ethnic minority groups, especially black and South Asian people, have the worst outcomes. 1 -6 The covid-19 pandemic is just another example. 7 This is a moral issue that has outraged civilised societies. As Alexandre Dumas wrote: "Moral wounds have this peculiarity-they may be hidden, but they never close; always painful, always ready to bleed when touched, they remain fresh and open in the heart."