Northampton event explores disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on people of colour

A Northampton event will draw attention to a national conversation about how Covid-19 has disproportionately affect BAME communities.

A stark statistic from the Coronavirus pandemic was that Black and Asian minority ethnic groups (BAME) are more likely to die if they contract Covid-19.

But additionally, a concern since the rollout of the vaccination programme is that ethnic minorities are being targeted by fringe groups who set out to "scare" them into refusing the jab.

Now, the University of Northampton is set to hold a virtual event to sharpen the global focus on ethnicity and race in the time of COVID-19.

March 17 will feature the Justice, Anti-Racism against Discrimination and the fight for its Elimination (JADE) event

The event, which is open to students, staff and members of the community in Northampton, will welcome guest speaker Dr Gwenetta Curry, an academic expert on Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities at the Medical College of the University of Edinburgh. Dr Curry will share her research on ethnicity, race and COVID-19, in this thought provoking look at the impact of the pandemic.

Dr Marcella Daye, Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management, and co-chair of the university's Global Ethnic Majority Staff Network (GEM), said: “I have great concerns that the pandemic has been disproportionately impacting people of colour. There’s also some uncertainty among our ethnic groups in accepting the COVID-19 vaccines.

"Through this JADE conversation, we hope to focus thinking and ensure that the voice of people of colour are represented, heard and understood, with the aim to minimise the adverse negative impacts of this pandemic on people of colour.”

Research during the pandemic has shown Black and Asian minority ethnic (BAME) groups have been found to be up to 50 per cent more likely to die if they contract Covid-19.

The JADE event will take place virtually on March 17, from 5-6pm. Register to attend the event here.