This is an interesting and thoughtful thread from Maajid

I am reminded of a quote published on the BBC last week from an unnamed worker in India "Social distancing is for the priviledged" https://twitter.com/MaajidNawaz/status/1247839440409636865

I note he wasn't talking race, but wealth in his country, and that the better of you are the more likely you are to be able to social distance.

Of course in other countries the ethnic makeup is different and can lead to stats like those in Maajid's thread

I would note at this point though that more research is needed.

Diabetes for example is a risk factor for covid, and it is a condition

I've been involved in diabetes research and ethnicity is always an important factor as per https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Research/Our-research-projects/London/Black-African-ethnicity-and-Type-2-diabetes-risk

"People of Black African origin are up to three times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than people of White European origin."

So it could be that actual medical conditions are heightening the severity of covid in our BAME communities. Clearly this needs investigating

Men are also disproportionately severely affected, we don't know why this is. Is it some sort of social thing? Is it genetic? Is it related health conditions? Is the virus "sexist"? Are the men dying perhaps poorer than average? Are they men from lower paid jobs?

At the moment we (to my knowledge) don't have the data to know.

It could be that all the data is simply a reflection of social/economic conditions. It could be the virus. It could be a mix of factors (probable IMO)

In the meantime though I can only reflect upon the fact that yes being able to social distance is a priviledge. I might live in a poorer part of the country. But I don't live in a city. I might have left London because I can't afford to stay, but my garden is a haven right now!

But then I also live in a part of the country with a lesser health service than London and a significantly older than average population. If we had a London like outbreak it would be devastating. I can only hope it doesn't happen