DUP minister Edwin Poots 
A data analyst has challenged a DUP minister’s claim that there are more Covid-19 hotspots in Catholic communities, saying poverty is the key factor linked to outbreaks not religion.
Speaking to The Irish News, Peter Donaghy said it was in socially deprived areas that people won’t have jobs which allow them to work from home. This increases their number of physical contacts.
Last Friday Mr Donaghy posted a graph on social media challenging DUP minister Edwin Poots over his controversial claims that the difference in transmission rates between nationalist and unionist areas is around “six to one”.
Mr Donaghy wrote on Twitter: “The key factor behind areas badly hit by Northern Ireland’s 2nd Covid-19 wave isn’t religion, but poverty. Only one of NI’s 40 least deprived postcode areas has over 400 weekly cases per 100,000, a quarter of the most deprived 40 areas do.
“Can’t believe this needs to be said, but no, it isn’t true that only majority Catholic areas are Covid-19 hotspots. The most recent positivity rate was over 14.5% in all council areas in Northern Ireland.”
