Non-white communities could be at greater risk of developing critical coronavirus, new data suggests.

Around a third of people analysed who were critically ill with Covid-19 were from black, Asian or minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds.

Of 2,249 critically ill coronavirus patients analysed by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC), more than 30% were from BME backgrounds, compared to 64.8% white.

A total of 13.8% were Asian, 13.6% were recorded as black and 6.6% described themselves as other.

BME communities represent around 13% of the UK population according to the 2011 census.

The figures have been noticed by the South Asian Health Foundation (SAHF) who had previously highlighted anecdotal suggestions that disproportionate numbers of younger South Asian people were critically ill with the virus.

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Scientists are now telling people to take advice of messages on social distancing to prevent the spread of the disease.

Kamlesh Khunti, professor in primary care diabetes and vascular medicine at the University of Leicester, said researchers want to learn more about the trend.

He said: ‘We have been concerned about this issue based on anecdotal reports and now this data is showing a signal regarding what we have been saying.

‘This is a signal, but at this stage that’s all it is.

‘We now need more data, so we are therefore embarking on a mission to learn more through research.’

Wasim Hanif, professor of diabetes and endocrinology at University Hospitals Birmingham, urged everyone to ‘respect the Government’s public health messages’.

He said: ‘By following some simple measures, we all have the best chance of staying healthy, and in doing so, help ease the pressure on the NHS.’

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