Poor people are the hardest hit by COVD-19 according to Luxembourgish study

Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research presented the preliminary results of their study, outlining some of the risk factors for low-income earners

According to the preliminary results of a study by LISER (Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research), published earlier this week, the pandemic hit low-income earners in the country harder than it did richer people. The study points to some potentially contributing factors, such as work type, access to care, housing conditions. All these could lead to a higher risk of hospitalisation.

Low-income earners have twofold-higher health risk

The preliminary results of the study are based on data collected between March 2020 and July 2021. They conclude that the lowest income earners are twice as likely to end up in hospitals if they catch COVID-19, compared with the top salary bracket in Luxembourg. This result could be based on housing conditions, coupled with work type.

An overcrowded household might provide few options for patients to isolate themselves from their family members once they catch the disease, while low-paying jobs and essential workers, in general, are exposed to a higher risk of infection. This is compounded by the fact that typically low-income earners have less access to healthcare and medicine, according to the researchers’ presentation.

People working retail jobs, delivery, hospitality and education were more at risk of ending up in hospitals, compared to those working more white-collar jobs at home.

Life must go on

The LISER study came out just as Luxembourgish authorities are contemplating removing Covid-restrictions and going back to a cautious variation of normalcy. Health Minister Paulette Lenert said in an interview for the newspaper L’Essentiel that life must go on and the health pass offers a possibility for that to happen.

Currently, around two-thirds of all citizens of the Grand Duchy have been vaccinated, putting it well behind countries like Denmark and Ireland. Nevertheless, a petition calling for a ban on mandatory vaccination has gained enough signatures to make it into parliament.

Minister Lenert ruled out mandatory vaccination, however, she has been an outspoken proponent of restricting access to public events for people who have decided to skip out on the jab. Health Ministry experts are evaluating the issue and its development regularly.