Barnsley MP concerned about 'clear link' between covid-19 infection rates and deprivation

Mr Jarvis appeared on Sky News correspondent Sophy Ridge's Sunday politics show and said: “Of course I’m concerned. There are striking similarities when you look at those places that are on the top 10 list of affected areas.

“I think there is a clear link with deprivation."

Four of the top 10 areas for high infection rates nationally were in Yorkshire, according to figures released last week.

As of the latest data available, up to July 7, Barnsley had a total of 1,891 cases of coronavirus, and Rotherham has 1,879.

Mr Jarvis added: “I think what Government has to do is ensure that all of the support and, critically, the resource is available to those areas to make sure that they have got everything that they need to ensure that the figures go in the right direction.”

"The coronavirus has brought to the fore many of the structural inequalities that we’ve been dealing with for generations, not least in terms of long-standing health inequalities and what I want us to do is use this moment as one of Covid being a catalyst for change.

“We’ve got to act in the short-term to keep a laser-like focus on the figures but also in the medium and longer-term invest in the longer-term health and wellbeing of our population.”

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