THE death rates for taxi drivers, nurses and security guards are two and a half times what they was last year - with the profession being one of the worst hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.

A new report by West Yorkshire Combined Authority looks at the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the Leeds City Region Area, which includes Bradford.

It shows that the impact of the virus has been felt differently on people of different ages, ethnicities and careers.

The report, being discussed by the Authority, made up of representatives from local Council, next Friday, says that deaths in 2020 in certain occupations were “over and above” the increase seen in the general population.

Number of people in Bradford who have died due to Coronavirus reaches 494

The Authority will be given a report on the impact of Covid-19 in the local area, and part of this report refers to recent findings from Public Health England.

Deaths among nursing auxiliaries and assistants were 2.5 times higher than usual deaths, according to the findings.

Deaths among taxi drivers and chauffeurs were also 2.5 times higher than the previous year.

And death rates for security guards were 2.6 times higher.

The report, going before the Employment and Skills Panel, shows the stark differences in death rates between age and ethnic groups.

A recent report by Public Health England found that “Covid-19 has replicated existing health inequalities and, in some cases, has increased them.”

People diagnosed with Covid-19 who were 80 or older were seventy times more likely to die than those under 40 - according to the report.

The report also found significant differences in impacts by ethnicity.

It says: “Whilst all cause mortality is higher for all groups so far this year, it is almost twice as high as usual for white males, almost three times higher for Asian males and almost four times higher for black males.

“All-cause mortality is 1.6 times higher for white females, 2.4 times higher for those of Asian ethnicity and three times higher for black females.”

The report adds: “After accounting for the effect of sex, age, deprivation and region, people of Bangladeshi ethnicity had around twice the risk of death than people of White British ethnicity.

“People of Chinese, Indian, Pakistani, Other Asian, Caribbean and Other Black ethnicity had between 10 and 50 per cent higher risk of death when compared to people of White British ethnicity.”

There is a range of factors behind these statistics, the report says: “The relationship between ethnicity and health is complex and likely to be the result of a combination of factors” with people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups more likely to also have other elevated risk factors, such as living in urban and/or deprived areas, residing in overcrowded households and working in occupations that expose them to higher risk.”

Across England there have been, on average, 272.4 cases of Covid 19 per 100,000 people.

“Across the Leeds City Region there is 211.7 cases pre 100,000 with all local authorities having a lower rate than the England Figure.

Craven has had the highest rate to date with 249.9 cases per 100,000, followed closely by Bradford with 248 cases per 100,000

The report also reveals that West Yorkshire manufacturers have the lowest confidence level in the country that they will reach 75-100 per cent of pre-covid operating levels by 2021. Just 50 per cent of local businesses think they will be able to achieve this.