Latest COVID 🦠

This week, COVID-19 in the UK remains stable, with declining hospitalisations and deaths. The XEC variant now dominates as KP.3.1.1 wanes. Booster uptake rises, particularly among over-65s, highlighting ongoing public health efforts.

Latest COVID 🦠


▪ COVID-19 Surveillance Data (from UKHSA) ▪

  • COVID-19 activity remained stable or decreased across indicators and was circulating at baseline levels
  • COVID-19 hospitalisations slightly decreased to 1.71 per 100,000 compared with 1.84 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • COVID-19 ICU admissions or remained stable at 0.05 per 100,000 compared with 0.06 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • There were 12 COVID-19 acute respiratory incidents reported in week 48
  • The highest hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was in those aged 85 years and over - the rate remained stable at 16.59 per 100,000 compared with 16.38 in the previous week
  • The highest hospital admission rate was in the North-West, which increased to 2.49 per 100,000, compared with 1.95 in the previous week
  • Up to the end of week 49, 22.8% of those under 65 years in a clinical risk group and 57.9% of all people aged over 65 years old, who are living and resident in England had been vaccinated with an Autumn 2024 booster dose




▪ SUMMARY ▪

This week’s COVID-19 report shows that COVID-19 activity in the UK remains stable across most indicators. Hospitalisation rates have declined slightly, with the highest rates among those aged 85 and over. ICU admissions are stable. The XEC variant is now dominant, while KP.3.1.1 has sharply declined. Vaccination uptake for boosters has increased, particularly among the over-65s. Weekly deaths continue to decline, but the cumulative toll has reached 243,630, emphasising the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

The booster campaign, which started on 3 October, will close on 20 December. Eligible individuals are encouraged to book before the deadline.

REMINDER: The NHS Autumn 2024 booster campaign is now open. Book your vaccination now: click here!


▪ COVID CHART ▪

— ENGLAND DATA ONLY. | Credit: Dr Joe Pajak






▪ Variant Data


▪ VARIANT – ANALYSIS ▪

Key observations:

  • KP.3.1.1 decreased from 36.3% to 27.1%.
  • XEC increased from 28.8% to 34.4%.
  • XEC.2 rose significantly from 4.6% to 7.9%.
  • XEK showed a slight increase from 1.7% to 2.2%.
  • Other variants like MC.1, MC.16, and smaller ones had minor shifts in proportion.

COVID-19 variant trends show KP.3.1.1 declining sharply, overtaken by the rising XEC variant. XEC.2 and XEK have gained prominence, reflecting a dynamic shift in variant dominance over time.




▪ Vaccination Data

▪ VACCINATION ANALYSIS ▪

Key observations: Booster doses administered dropped to 140,093 last week from 232,288 the previous week, totalling nearly 9.4 million in eight weeks, lagging behind the pace of the previous two Autumn campaigns.






▪ COVID Death Data

▪ COVID DEATH ANALYSIS ▪

Last week, there was another decrease in weekly deaths. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 has now reached 243,630, which 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.







▪ FREE COVID TOOL

▪ FREE AEROSOL TRANSMISSION ESTIMATOR ▪

Try this FREE RISK ASSESSMENT TOOL to estimate indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19 around you.




▪ COVID on BlueSky

Dear @wesstreeting, as you'll be aware, the @UKHSA national surveillance programmes collect data on HCAI, including: Bacteraemia Clostridioides difficile infection Escherichia coli and MRSA. ⚠️But, not for #SARSCoV2 virus (COVID-19)? Why? @covidinquiryuk petition.parliament.uk/petitions/70...

— @DrJoePajak CSci CChem FRSC (@drjoepajak.bsky.social) 2024-12-14T10:31:37.584Z






▪ COVID Latest News & Studies




▪ COVID Article Archives