Opinion

Allison Morris: It is not religion making people susceptible to Covid, it's neglect and poverty

DUP leader Arlene Foster with Edwin Poots at Stormont in 2018. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA
DUP leader Arlene Foster with Edwin Poots at Stormont in 2018. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA DUP leader Arlene Foster with Edwin Poots at Stormont in 2018. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA

Covid doesn't know what foot you kick with, but it does pose a far greater risk to those living in poverty.

DUP agriculture minister Edwin Poots has caused a controversy by claiming that Covid cases in nationalist areas outnumber those in unionist areas by "around six to one".

Sinn Féin labelled his comments "sectarian claptrap".

I don't believe anyone really thinks that Covid is coming for the Catholics, but I do believe there's a section of our society that likes to believe that nationalist communities are lawless, even when it comes to their own health.

This stereotype is what has driven much of the negative discourse over the last few days, with the 'we're all in this together' spirit we saw back in March now well and truly forgotten.

Data on positive coronavirus tests is not collected in terms of religion, or employment or housing conditions, but maybe they should be.

In other countries there are numerous studies being carried out to establish links to why certain sections of society are harder hit by Covid than others.

Public Health England found people from black ethnic groups are most likely to be diagnosed with Covid-19, and death rates were highest among people of black and Asian ethnic groups.

A study commissioned by Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer for England, looked at the extent that ethnicity impacts upon risk and outcomes.

It showed clear evidence that Covid-19 does not affect all population groups equally.

Age, ethnicity, gender and geographical area, are all associated with the risk of getting the infection, experiencing more severe symptoms and higher rates of death.

Death rates from Covid were higher for black and Asian ethnic groups when compared to white ethnic groups.

In Northern Ireland there has been no such official study of data. This was confirmed by the first and deputy first ministers when asked by the Irish News at a recent assembly press conference.

However, earlier this week data expert Peter Donaghy showed that those who live in more socially deprived areas of the north are at greater risk.

People are more likely to have jobs that don't allow to them to work from home, thereby increasing their face-to-face contacts and risk of infection.

Cramped social housing make social distancing and isolation all but impossible, and poorer health outcomes in general are obvious factors in community transmission that have until now gone largely unspoken about.

Working as a cleaner in a hospital or waiting tables in a bar and then going home to a small, damp, three bedroom, one bathroom home housing five other people is always going to increase the risk to the entire family.

Having to shop for bargains every few days rather than the luxury of a once a month online 'big shop' is of course going to increase contact with others and therefore risk of infection.

That those areas are more likely, but not uniquely, to be considered nationalist is as a result of generational under investment.

Edwin Poots may have his foot firmly and permanently in his mouth but he has hit upon a very important issue in terms of why areas like Derry and Strabane were recording the highest rates of infection on these islands.

It wasn't because Covid knew they were of the papist persuasion but because all infectious diseases thrive in cramped overcrowded conditions, among a population already likely to have poorer health outcomes.

That nationalist areas have been subjected to generational neglect and under investment should be to the shame of every Stormont coalition since the establishment of power sharing.

Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd said Mr Poots's claims about community transmission should be withdrawn.

"The public expect, and deserve nothing less than an executive which keeps sectarianism out of this public health emergency, and out of politics," he said.

However, this storm in a sectarian teacup should be used as an opportunity to address the elephant in the room, a proper study by the executive into the links between Covid transmission and poverty should be commissioned.

It's not religion making people susceptible to Covid, it's neglect and poverty. That may not make as good a headline but it's a lot more accurate that some of the nonsense spouted in the last week.