People are still asking why this was the case, but evidence suggests that social inequalities in areas such as housing, occupational risk and access to healthcare are to blame.
Minority groups might also have been especially vulnerable to the effects of local lockdowns, which were more common in densely populated urban areas with higher rates of ethnic diversity. The disadvantages of local restrictions may have outweighed the protective benefits for many people.
Supported by Sampad South Asian Arts & Heritage, artists Tasawar Bashir and Nafeesa Hamid have gathered stories from South Asian communities living in the West Midlands. Clips from oral history recordings were combined with sounds of the natural world in this installation, which explored how people from diverse backgrounds navigated one of the most challenging periods in our history.
