Rapid evidence review: inequalities in relation to COVID-19 and their effects on London

This report provides the outcomes of a rapid evidence review that was commissioned by the Greater London Authority. The objective of the review was to document and understand the impact of COVID-19 (in terms of both health and the broader impacts on existing social and economic inequalities) on those with protected characteristics, as well as those living in poorer, or more precarious, socioeconomic circumstances, paying particular attention to its effect in London.

We identify substantial inequalities across protected characteristics and socioeconomic position in relation to the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This is both in terms of risk of COVID-19 infection, complications and mortality, and in terms of the negative economic, social and psychological consequences of government policies to mitigate the health impacts of the pandemic. These COVID-19 related inequalities are caused by processes of marginalisation and oppression, which before the pandemic had led to well-documented social and health inequalities, inequalities that have been exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic.