Selective 'Blindness'

Members of BME groups die more commonly from a sars CoV-2 infection than other so-called 'racial' groups. Having said that, it also appears very likely that much of this difference is down to  socio-economic factors rather than genes. BME folk tend to be concentrated in urban areas and are less likely to live in affluent spots with spacious accommodation and gardens (which make lockdown easier). As a result, they are likely to be exposed to environmental factors (including poor air quality) that increase their risk of developing underlying diseases of the heart and lungs (risk factors in a Covid-19 pandemic). They are also likely to live in shared multi-generational accommodation and to work in sectors where viral transmission can be high. Air quality has profound effects on both mortality (it is said to be as bad as the Covid-19 pandemic but, goes on, year-after-year) and the already mentioned morbidities. I must admit to being consequently surprised (like many others) that Public Health England, in its review attempting to explain the excess fatalities in the BME communities (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/07/omission-of-air-pollution-from-report-on-covid-19-and-race-astonishing), fails to even mention air quality as an exacerbating factor (poor folk tend to live, study and work near busy roads). I don't think they can be entirely unaware of the link.