Digital first during the COVID-19 pandemic: does ethnicity matter?

Lydia Poole,Mel Ramasawmy,Amitava Banerjee

doi:10.1016/s2468-2667(21)00186-9

Abstract

The UK's strategy to control COVID-19 has seen reliance on digital technologies, including electronic booking systems for testing and vaccination and a National Health Service COVID-19 app to support the National Health Service's Test and Trace programme. During the pandemic, the UK Government has invested heavily in digital technologies, with the design and implementation of the Test and Trace programme alone estimated to have a projected cost of £38 billion.1

Highlights

Such a response reflects the large-scale adoption of Public Health England’s so-called digital-first policy.[2]
The latest data from the UK shows that the age-adjusted mortality rate for COVID-19 was considerably higher among minority ethnic people compared with people from a White British background
The UK Office for National Statistics showed that 92% of adults were recent internet users in 2020.4 usage is lowest among older, minority ethnic groups

Summary

Introduction

Such a response reflects the large-scale adoption of Public Health England’s so-called digital-first policy.[2]. The latest data from the UK shows that the age-adjusted mortality rate for COVID-19 was considerably higher among minority ethnic people compared with people from a White British background.

Results

Conclusion