UK healthcare has dramatically improved since 1850, yet the geography of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic closely follows the pattern of poor health in the 19th century. This has been observed by Cambridge researchers who have created an interactive map of the changing fortunes of populations across the UK. As one example, former mining areas such as Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales suffered both high child mortality in the past and high COVID mortality recently, highlighting the continuing impact of poverty and poor health on communities.
Added 16 November 2022; updated 3 May 2023.