Britons from black, Asian and minority ethnic communities are disproportionately at high risk from coronavirus, according to new data.

Figures published by NHS England show that of 13,918 patients in England who tested positive for Covid-19 at time of death up to April 17, 16.2 per cent were BAME and 0.7 per cent had mixed ethnicity.

These groups also accounted for 35 per cent of all coronavirus patients in intensive care, according to the Guardian, despite only making up 13 per cent of the population.

The statistics emerged days after a review was announced to examine what appears to be a disproportionate number of BAME people who have been affected by Covid-19.

The first ten doctors to die in the UK from Covid-19 were all BAME - with ancestry from regions including Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Pictured: Dr Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, who passed away in hospital after a 15-day battle against the virus

Those with Indian heritage are the most affected, making up three per cent of hospital deaths, followed by those from the Caribbean at 2.9 per cent and Africans at 1.9 per cent.

The first 10 doctors to die in the UK from Covid-19 were all from BAME backgrounds - with ancestry from regions including Asia, the Middle East and Africa, a figure Labour described as 'deeply disturbing'.

Analysis from Sky News suggests that of 54 medical and care staff killed by coronavirus, 70 per cent were non-white.

BAME staff make up 44 per cent of medical personnel and Labour and the British Medical Association were among those calling for an inquiry.

In the 2011 UK census, around 7.5 per cent of the population were Asian and 3.3 per cent black.

Dr Amged El-Hawrani became the UK's first front-line hospital doctor to die from coronavirus following warnings that a lack of protective equipment would cost medical staff lives

Dr Fayaz Ayache, 72, died six days after being taken to Ipswich Hospital by ambulance

Last week, Downing Street confirmed the NHS and Public Health England will lead the review of evidence, following pressure on ministers to launch an investigation.

Discussing the review, Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, said ethnicity is 'less clear' than three others factors in determining who is most at risk from coronavirus.

'This is something we are very keen to get extremely clear,' he said.

'We've asked Public Health England to look at this in some detail and then what we really want is, if we see any signal at all, we want to then know what next we can do about it to minimise risk.'

Professor Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, said ethnicity is 'less clear' than three others factors in determining who is most at risk from coronavirus

A London doctor working with Covid-19 patients said the virus has exposed health inequalities for minority communities.

Mohammedabbas Khaki, 34, a GP with Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: 'Existing inequalities will be more greatly exposed at a time of crisis. For example, south Asians live in more deprived areas and have more diabetes, kidney and cardiovascular disease.

'Additionally, south Asian people often live in larger, multi-generational households, where social isolation may not be as easy.

'Many of these workers may also be in key worker jobs - combining their frontline roles with their living arrangements might be a reason that we are seeing so many of the BAME population in intensive care units.'