ARGUMENTS between local authorities and Government need to be put aside with the focus being on protecting communities during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a charity.

The Al-Khair Foundation has called for a national task force is need to fight the risk of coronavirus outbreaks which could lead to more lockdowns.

Imam Qasim, chairman and founder of Al-Khair Foundation, believes communities are being put at risk by poor support, health co-ordination and confusing statistics around infection rates.

He said: “We have seen spikes in areas with high ethnic background populations yet the response has been patchy and aimed more at avoiding responsibility for outbreaks rather than dealing with problems on the ground,” he says.

“It appears that local councils and the government are at odds with each other when they should be united."

Imam Qasim believes that poverty, a powerful work ethic, generations living tightly together, English as a second language and lack of healthcare increase the COVID-19 risk for ethnic populations.

He said: “We need an independent task force with the resources and powers to help people and protect communities. Failure to act will only lead to the potential of further spikes of infection.

“People are telling us that there is no effort to understand and appreciate what is happening at street and family level.

“Officials appear to be concentrating and, in some cases, arguing over data and statistics too much.

“There are deep-seated social and cultural issues that need to be addressed sensitively and positively. Everyone accepts that these are difficult times but more needs to be done for minority communities to alleviate their life, health and work conditions.”

He added: “These communities are often almost forgotten when it comes to care facilities and the impact of poverty."