Latest COVID 🦠
Latest Weekly UK COVID-19 Data. COVID levels have stabilised across the UK, though future waves remain possible. Hospital admissions have levelled off, but 30% of over-65s remain unvaccinated or haven’t had a dose in over a year.
▪ UK ANALYSIS
Recent data show COVID levels have stabilised across the UK, though it is too early to confirm if cases will decline. In England, case rates have stopped increasing, while in Scotland and Wales, hospital admissions have stabilised. Northern Ireland saw a slight rise in admissions, with 20% of tested samples showing the new XEC variant. The latest reports stress that COVID is unlikely to become seasonal, and new variants may cause future waves as immunity wanes. With the Autumn 2024 booster campaign underway, 30% of people aged 65 and older remain unvaccinated or haven’t had a dose in over a year.
REMINDER: The NHS Autumn 2024 booster campaign is now open. Book your vaccination now: click here.
— ENGLAND DATA ONLY. | Credit: Dr Joe Pajak
“The UKHSA data dashboard shows public health data across England. Several metrics featured on this dashboard are currently on pause. Some data lags behind; for example, data on COVID hospitalisations are over 4 weeks behind today’s date, an unnecessary, and unhelpful, delay.”
— Dr Joe Pajak
▪ Variant Data
▪ VARIANT GLOBALLY -- ANALYSIS
Key observations: The KP3-family variants represent 90% of all variants in the UK, while the JN-family variants are in decline.
A new COVID variant, XEC, identified in Germany, may soon dominate globally. Though slightly more transmissible, experts say updated vaccines still offer strong protection, with NHS boosters available for vulnerable groups. Symptoms mirror common cold or flu: high temperature, aches, tiredness, cough, or sore throat. Most people recover within a few weeks, though recovery may take longer for some more vulnerable individuals.
The XEC variant already represents 6% of COVID cases in the United States.
▪ Vaccination Data
▪ VACCINATION ANALYSIS
Key observations: The largest group of the UK population aged 12+ last received a COVID vaccination over two years ago, particularly under-50s and those ineligible for boosters. Over a quarter remain unvaccinated. Immunity mainly stems from infections, with lingering risks of Long COVID despite low hospitalisation or death rates.
▪ COVID Death Data
▪ COVID DEATH ANALYSIS
Last week, there was a decrease in weekly deaths. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 (241,665) still underscores the pandemic’s continuing impact and the need for sustained public health interventions and support for affected individuals, the most vulnerable and their families.
▪ COVID Free Aerosol Transmission Estimator
▪ FREE TOOL FOR EVERYONE
Try this FREE risk assessment tool to estimate indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19 around you.
▪ COVID on X/Twitter
SARS-CoV-2 can infect inner ear cells, specifically hair cells and Schwann cells, which are crucial for hearing and balance.
— David Lingenfelter, PhD (@dlingenfelter) October 3, 2024
Some COVID-19 patients developed hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo, suggesting a link between the virus and these symptoms.https://t.co/Ussb9B5tAT pic.twitter.com/ud6ssRjt8V
Earlier this year, Economist Impact convened an international Advisory Council to reach a consensus on how Long Covid should be defined, understood & addressed globally.
— Cat in the Hat 🐈⬛ 🎩 🇬🇧 (@_CatintheHat) October 3, 2024
The Advisory Council have now published their (unanimously ratified) Consensus Statement on Long Covid.
🧵 pic.twitter.com/oAB8NpxFaN
It’s remarkable that nearly 5 years in, there’s still vagueness about which ambulances have what air flow. There may be lots of ambulances in use, but if we valued our paramedic workforce you’d think we’d have employed some mechanics & engineers to ensure all had clean air. https://t.co/NbMGRu0WSa
— Dr Distemper (@MeddygLou) October 1, 2024
Devon care home nurse refused to wear mask as he believed 'Covid was a conspiracy' - 7 elderly residents all died in March/April 2021 having contracted coronavirus at Holmesley Care Home in Sidford, Devon. Another staff member ignored 100% positive tests
— Fionna O'Leary, 🕯🇪🇺 (@fascinatorfun) October 1, 2024
https://t.co/aa5DwX3Bhd
🇺🇸 Between Oct 2022 and April 2024, babies under 6 months were as likely to be hospitalised with COVID as 65-75yo.
— Viki Male (@VikiLovesFACS) September 27, 2024
💉 Of babies hospitalised with COVID, only 5% had mothers vaccinated during pregnancy…
1/https://t.co/0Jp3xHwFMm
Below, technicians change a HEPA filter designed to purify the air inside a plane in which passengers spend a few hours.
— LET'S AIR (@nousaerons) October 1, 2024
It's astonishing that such filters aren't installed in all schools to protect the children who spend whole days there, sometimes in very confined rooms. pic.twitter.com/Ob40Jb0LYb
▪ COVID Latest News & Studies
COVID-19–Associated Hospitalizations and Maternal Vaccination Among Infants Aged Under 6 Months — COVID-NET, 12 States, October 2022–April 2024 | CDC
Post-COVID-19 condition symptoms among emergency department patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection | NATURE
SARS-CoV-2 infection of the inner ear | NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Staff, visitors and patients urged to wear face masks at the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals after rise in COVID cases | BROMSGROVE STANDARD
Devon care home nurse refused to wear mask as they believed 'COVID was a conspiracy' | DEVON LIVE
Changes in memory and cognition during the SARS-CoV-2 human challenge study | THE LANCET
▪ COVID Article Archives
Future pandemic as big as COVID is inevitable, says Whitty | THE GUARDIAN
My sporty son is bedbound with long COVID – nearly every doctor let him down | THE i NEWSPAPER
Is the NHS “broken”? Staff haven't given up, neither should our politicians | THE bmj
COVID and cold infections surge in autumn double whammy | THE i NEWSPAPER
Airborne transmission, facemasks, and how COVID spread | THE HERALD
XEC Variant Threatens KP.3.1.1 Dominance, New Surge Looms. Excess Mortality Could Linger for a Decade: Reinsurance Company Warns | T.A.C.T.
We have lived through a COVID summer – and now there is new variant causing concern | The Independent
People can't make "risk assessments" without knowing the risks | The Gauntlet
New XEC COVID variant: What are the symptoms and is it spreading in the UK? | BBC News
New COVID variant XEC now in half of states. Here's what to know. | CBS News
COVID Kidney Infection and Associated Damage with Potential of Kidney Failure | T.A.C.T.
The Paris Olympics is the first Games that let COVID run free, and it impacted how the event played out | ABC Australia
Long COVID science, research and policy | Nature
Noah Lyles' collapse underscores our collective COVID denial | Salon
About 400 Million People Worldwide Have Had Long COVID, Researchers Say | New York Times
Urgent COVID comeback warning as new variant KP 3.1.1 on rise with Olympians struck down | Mirror
COVID cases still rising and could go higher later in the summer, scientists warn | iNews
COVID outbreak spreads among Australian Olympic team | InQueensland
A Long COVID Definition -- A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences | National Academy of Sciences
JCVI advises on eligible groups for autumn COVID-19 vaccination | UKHSA
Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for ventilation and indoor air quality | Science
Rapid response to: COVID inquiry report: We planned for failure | bmj
First COVID inquiry report ‘shows criminally negligent’ attitude of previous governments | Disability News Service
MHRA approves Comirnaty JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children from infancy | MHRA
How worried should we be about the new FLiRT and LB.1 COVID variants? | BreakingNews.ie
COVID deaths rise as booster vaccine take-up falls | BBC News
Driver's brain fog from COVID-19 linked to Cork crash that claimed lives of elderly couple | Irish Examiner
Long-Term Health Effects of COVID-19 -- Disability and Function Following SARS-CoV-2 Infection | National Academy of Sciences
Are We Headed for Another Summer COVID-19 Wave? | Time
A Long COVID Definition -- A Chronic, Systemic Disease State with Profound Consequences | National Academy of Sciences
Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 | Nature
An Object Lesson From COVID on How to Destroy Public Trust | New York Times
Three-year outcomes of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 | Nature
Relative efficacy of masks and respirators as source control for viral aerosol shedding from people infected with SARS-CoV-2: a controlled human exhaled breath aerosol experimental study | Lancet
COVID can cause new health problems to appear years after infection, according to a study of more than 130,000 patients | Fortune
Post-Acute Cardiovascular Outcomes of COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents: An EHR Cohort Study from the RECOVER Project | medRxiv
The COVID Inquiry is Ignoring the Biggest Lesson: COVID-19 is Airborne | Byline Times
Up to 5.8 million kids have long COVID, study says. One mother discusses the "heartbreaking" search for answers. | CBS News
Is It COVID, Spring Allergies or a Cold? | New York Times
New COVID-19 Wave In Singapore, Minister Advises Wearing Of Masks After 25,900 Cases Recorded In A Week | News18
COVID patient testing, isolation of sick staff cut in-hospital viral spread, modeling study suggests | University of Minnesota
Hundreds of patients died after catching COVID in Victorian hospitals, new data shows | ABC News
An incomplete picture: understanding the burden of long COVID | The Economist
Updated estimates of Long COVID in England and Scotland show that it remains a serious issue | Christina Pagel
Exploring findings from the Winter COVID-19 Infection Study | ONS
The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in tissues and its association with long COVID symptoms: a cross-sectional cohort study in China | The Lancet
Evidence from whole genome sequencing of aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 almost 5 hours after hospital room turnover | American Journal of Infection Control
NHS rolls out new variant COVID vaccine as virus continues to kill 100 a week | The Mirror
Indoor airborne risk assessment in the context of SARS-CoV-2 | WHO
W.H.O. Broadens Definition of Airborne Diseases | New York Times
Host-microbe multiomic profiling reveals age-dependent immune dysregulation associated with COVID-19 immunopathology | Science
Rishi Sunak spent £2m on focus groups for ‘eat out to help out’ scheme | The Guardian
What is the economic benefit of annual COVID-19 vaccination from the adult individual perspective? | The Journal of Infectious Diseases
COVID-19 shatters decades of global health progress, slashing life expectancy | News-Medical.Net
Long COVID leaves telltale traces in the blood | UKRI
COVID-19 Virus Can Persist in the Body More Than a Year after Infection | PolyBio
Ventilation during COVID-19 in a school for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities | PLOS
NHS hospital capacity during COVID-19: overstretched staff, space, systems, and stuff | the bmj
Long COVID still has no cure — so these patients are turning to research | Nature
COVID boosters are a gamechanger – if they are free for everyone | The Guardian
COVID Linked to Lower IQ, Poor Memory and Other Negative Impacts on Brain Health | People
Clearing the air: Long COVID sufferers advocate for a healthier world | Texas Observer
COVID-19 Leaves Its Mark on the Brain. Significant Drops in IQ Scores Are Noted | Scientific American
How COVID lockdowns hit mental health of teenage boys hardest | The Guardian
Young and old: how the COVID pandemic has affected every UK generation | The Guardian
Thousands of disabled people died after ‘COVID treatment withheld’, inquiry to probe | iNews
Deaths involving COVID-19 by disability status: a retrospective analysis of 29 million adults during the first two waves of the Coronavirus pandemic in England | The Lancet Public Health
The History of COVID-19 Immune Evasion and the Increasing Pace of Evolution | TACT
As the pandemic turns four, here’s what we need to do for a healthier future | PUBLIC SQUARE UK
Impact of COVID on the UK's Economy and Health Service | Bob Hawkins
Long COVID after breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection | Nature
‘Hypervaccinated’ man reportedly received 217 COVID jabs without side-effects | The Guardian
Prospective Memory Assessment before and after COVID-19 | The New England Journal of Medicine
Mounting research shows that COVID-19 leaves its mark on the brain, including with significant drops in IQ scores | PUBLIC SQUARE UK
Save lives in the next pandemic: ensure vaccine equity now | Nature
Cognition and Memory after Covid-19 in a Large Community Sample | The New England Journal of Medicine
COVID-19 may have small but lasting effects on cognition and memory | Imperial College London
What were the death tolls from pandemics in history? | OurWorldInData
Long COVID ‘brain fog’ may be due to leaky blood-brain barrier, study finds | The Guardian
Doctor behind brilliant new COVID drama reveals why she’s burning with rage | Metro UK
Prevalence of persistent SARS-CoV-2 in a large community surveillance study | Nature
COVID-19 protesters demand changes to infection control guidelines as ITV series airs | London News Online
Fewer people than ever will receive a COVID booster this spring. The UK needs a new strategy | The Guardian
The forgotten pandemic? | Cherwell
COVID cases and hospitalisations fall sharply – what the latest data tell us | iNews
What SARS-CoV-2 Does to the Body | Pandemic Accountability Index
Rampant COVID Poses New Challenges in the Fifth Year of the Pandemic | Scientific American
Patients denied latest COVID vaccine after having booster jab earlier in rollout | iNews
'The virus is still evolving at an incredible rate': How widespread is COVID now - and how many people are dying with it? | Sky News
The New COVID-19 Shot Is Surprisingly Effective Against the Latest Variant | The Time
'The NHS sold out its staff': Doctors whose lives were devastated by long COVID to sue health service | Sky News
UK government wasted nearly £10bn on unused COVID PPE, figures show | The Guardian
COVID-19: Doctors instruct law firm in bid for compensation after developing long COVID | bmj
WHO leader says COVID-19 is "still a pandemic" | Salon
Study shows Omicron variants evade immune system like predecessors, suggesting key evolutionary trait in SARS-CoV-2 | News-Medical.Net
Should we be worried about the new COVID-19 variant? | UKHSA
UK COVID rates mapped in every region of England - check full list for your area | Mirror
Vaccines reduce the risk of long COVID in children | Nature
Is It Dangerous to Keep Getting COVID-19? | Time
Lack of virus exposure due to COVID may be driving ‘never-ending’ colds, experts warn | The Independent
Should we wear masks again? UK virus cases rise as Spain restores COVID rules | iNews
