documentary film. starts. c.w. . this is. from berlin tonight doctors tell us the coronavirus does not discriminate but patients tell a different story in the u.k. with europe's highest death toll ethnic minorities have a greater chance of catching the virus and dying from it will have a look at an island of inequality also lebannon on

a rollercoaster 1st out of the walk down and shut down again because of a surge in infections will that pattern become the new normal and the italian government invites migrants to help harvest fruits and vegetables some voters don't like it but farmers warn their crops are in danger of being in the fields with the month. i'm off it's good to have you with us the corona virus it is no equal opportunity pathogen in the u.k. more than 30000 people have died of the disease since the pandemic began and a disproportionate number of them are from ethnic minorities for example black people in the u.k. are 4 times as likely to die from the disease as white people that's according to analysis by the u.k.'s office for national statistics and show lots of parts

reports now from one. dr this has had enough which is why she came here to downing street to protest even though she's 6 months pregnant she had to fight for protective gear and hospital because it just wasn't enough. out here today for the doctors nurses and health care workers who lost their lives tragically and senselessly to pull over more than 200 health care workers have died in britain so far 2 thirds of them were ethnic minorities. here in the united kingdom data has shown that the virus does indeed discriminate even though everybody has access to free health care experts are unsure about the reasons but say they vary from overcrowded housing to preexisting medical conditions what is clear though is that covert 19 revealed longstanding existing inequalities in

british society which rings true in this multiethnic neighborhood of brixton one of the colbert hot spots in the capital patients and hospitals across the country a 4 times more likely to die from coronavirus and white ones most people here where and have changed their behavior. much more carefully than bork march. i mean those who are going to just go. on the scene can is something that is killing everybody and i just need to keep myself or my family safe that's the main thing so i don't i don't know i'm not focused on the fact that black a dying i don't even harbor nothing more than grow gratis. so far medics and experts haven't figured out why minorities and the u.k.'s so disproportionately affected by cope with 19 the government launched an inquiry last month there's also been discussion of shielding minorities from frontline jobs and

an realistic approach something isn't it cannot make priorities but there are limited social actions. and. it's all very well. away from other people as far as schools but if it's a choice between not knowing and living off. some people who will be presented with with with the right. back at downing street this helps to encourage others to also speak up to prevent more deaths of ethnic minority patients and her colleagues. joining me now from birmingham england is nicole andrews she's a lecturer in health and social care focusing on racial disparities and public health centers it's good to have you on the program we understand that health workers in the u.k. they have been particularly hard hit by this pandemic and why is that because it's not just because they're on the frontline of this pandemic right. definitely

and this pandemic has really thrown open the dynamics of race and ethnicity in the u.k. and it is providing us a lens through which to leave a bad will see analyze and identify the nature of structural inequality that pervades british society and i think people are looking at the rights and black a minority ethnic people who have put in front line systems are in the n.h.s. and social care as a as an employer the n.h.s. is the largest employer of minority people in the u.k. our if we look at the figures it's not necessarily surprising to see that we are overrepresented in the figures we've got in fights and it's it's in the report we just saw we heard about proposals to get minorities out of frontline jobs that are highly dangerous in this pandemic but is that even possible.

i think it's expected to be really i think it's one thing for the government see why densify and knowledge that there is a disparity in the deaths due to coat it but the suggestion that you can shield frontline was because he was from some backgrounds from what. is is isn't really feasible and the reality is that much of the while that is done in the n.h.s. is done by minority ethnic employees and there is a long history of minority ethnic employees and the n.h.s. so to remove them from frontline would not be practical for how consistent the social care system in any deed is not financially present at the beginning of the program i said that this new coronavirus is not an equal opportunity pathogen is is it exacerbating the widening gap that we're seeing between the rich and the poor in the u k. oh most definitely i think to talk about this condition this fire as

an equaliser that is affecting everybody equally completely disregards the situation and whilst we might all be at risk peaking occulted the risk the sum is greater than others so for instance those who are made to whack it in these key lie cheat. and the bus drivers working for the end i driving taxis weapon care home as weapon enough means what you are vulnerable people are at increased risk of people poking and if we look at but people who often do these jobs they often people from a minority ethnic backgrounds so when we started and put that up against how we understand the stress it haitians in society is jobs which are. not as well paid but not necessarily not skilled because it's very skilled sit back and will say look at the recession some a definable people in our society a message of low paid very yes let me ask you just a for another time the prime minister boris johnson he you know he almost died from

covered in 19 didn't you expect because of that experience that we're going to see more attention on funding public services and funding the national health service. i have passed and i will be quite doubtful of that i think that the nature of the society that we live in is very much getting towards the privatisation of the national house so it doesn't necessarily mean that there will be up pumping in public money however like i said the situation of cold it has laid the situation bare and for the country i mean the prime minister say and that there has to be a recognition that the wealth and the help of a country and only be judged by how well the how is the term sponsor the needs of its citizens and it needs to be funded in a way that enables the citizens to be able to stay well unscrambled contributes. health and health inequalities shapes as i've said and how well can. you call

injuries an expert on health and social care joining us tonight from birmingham england misandrous we appreciate your time your insights thank you and. all countries around the world are interest in a new phase of responses to the pandemic loosening walk downs and reopening their economies but achieving the balance between returning to normality and containing the virus of that could prove difficult authorities in lebannon have reimposed to walk down after a spike in infection so is this the new reality facing all of us. after weeks of closures people in lebanon had finally begun to savor a gradual return to normal restaurants and cafes has started operating at reduced capacity shops and hairdressers had reopened their doors to customers but a jump in new cases $100.00 over 4 days brought the reopening to a sudden halt. the government announced

a 4 day long total lockdown exempt only 2 essential sectors like health and agriculture once again people are being told to stay at home the hope is that a short lockdown will be enough to stop the virus from spreading further but not everyone agrees. with. what a 4 days of lock down going to do against the coronavirus virus is here the real aim should be to guarantee people's basic needs but this is a miserable country. weeks of coronavirus restrictions have taken a toll on lebanon's already fragile economy food prices have soared triggering protests calling for the government to intervene but the need to contain the virus has trumped the looming financial crisis at least for the duration of the lock down lebanon's backward slide could be in store for other countries as they navigate their way through the pandemic. temporary lock downs followed by reopening to avoid

a 2nd wave of coronavirus cases. when i here's a brief look at some of the other stories that are wounding at least 20 others including civilians and military personnel told about insurgents have claimed responsibility and israeli soldier has shot and killed a palestinian after an attempted car ramming attack authorities say the man attempted to run over an israeli soldier before he was gunned down in the occupied west bank near hebron this comes one day after and israeli killed a 15 year old palestinian in the same area as the army was suppressing right. we have only has announced that it will grant a 6 month residency permits to thousands of irregular groups the government in rome is trying to help forms and farmers deal with the coburg $1000.00 up a deming that has cut the flow of cheap labor from overawed the politically sensitive move has prompted or was prompted by the country's agricultural lobby

which is warning that italy might otherwise have to dispose of huge amounts of produce. that will rot in the fields probably in the us he's here with more on them so. does this change affect i guess it is the farmers right well many people in fact because at the moment there are around 200 seasonal workers mainly from eastern europe who aren't able to travel to italy because of course of the restrictions on travel because of cope at 19 and what this measure will do will will essentially make around of 2 rand half a 1000000. regular migrants in italy. illegal and so we're talking about at people who would be able to then legally work mainly in the agricultural and you know the domestic services will say and i'm told so because they're illegal that you have to access basic health services it also in proves their quality. of life

and also let's not forget because there is such a crisis recovered 19 if they're in if they're actually illegal it will also mean that testing will be able to take place and also if they get ill you know they can actually get the proper treatment so it's really a human rights issue here as well because these initial permits we understand will be valid for 6 months what happens after the 6 months once you have the 1st 6 months then you can get another 6 month extension after 12 months then if you have a work contract then essentially you can get a longer permit and the idea is for this not to be a temporary measure but really a sort of more medium to long term solution we know that migration it is immediately politically sensitive topic here in europe especially in italy how was this decision has to be received with voters well you said it i mean it's a very sensitive topic and also it's been a very sensitive topic even within this government in innately in fact you know a multi-party government but before we really get on to that i mean what was very interesting was actually the agricultural minister of today isabella nova who

herself was actually a farm worker and a lay a labor union representative that was really adamant to get this pushed through and she said that she would have actually resigned if they push through so that's hear from her because it was pretty passionate and watching out. well look it's an os that the group don't meant this group that come find those that have been brutally exploited in the fields and also when they cooperatives where people were sent to her with families as caregivers or cleaning ladies little not be invisible anymore . they will have access to a work permit and we will help them to reclaim their identity and their dignity. while their identity and they can be very passionate words there and it's also it's caused a lot of division in italy but i'm sure it's going to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people now maybe i'm let's see what the knock on effects are across

the us and you can imagine harvest rotting in the fields that would be crazy bubba thank you very much you're watching the news i'll be back at the top of the hour with more world news followed by the day hope to see you this. combating the corona pandemic. where does research stand. what are scientists learning. background information and news. our corona update. from the covert 19 special next on d w. how does a virus spread. why do we panic and when will this. country just 3 of the top.