Latest COVID 🦠

This week, COVID-19 infection levels have declined across England, with low rates in Scotland, moderately high rates in Wales, and stable low levels in Northern Ireland. Hospitalisations have fallen, while ICU admissions remain steady. Deaths have decreased slightly but remain high.

Latest COVID 🦠


▪ COVID-19 Surveillance Data (from UKHSA) ▪

  • COVID-19 activity decreased across most indicators and was circulating at baseline levels
  • COVID-19 hospitalisations decreased to 2.16 per 100,000 compared to 2.74 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • COVID-19 ICU admissions remained stable at 0.06 per 100,000 compared with 0.10 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • there were 12 COVID-19 acute respiratory incidents reported in week 45
  • the highest hospital admission rate was in the North-East at 3.94 per 100,000, decreasing from 6.17 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • those aged 85 years and over had the highest hospital admission rate, which decreased to 21.60 per 100,000 compared with 32.28 in the previous week
  • up to the end of week 45, 19.7% of those under 65 years in a clinical risk group and 51.9% of all people aged over 65 years old, who are living and resident in England had been vaccinated with an Autumn 2024 booster dose
  • due to a data processing issue, the COVID-19 positivity section has not been updated this week, and will be updated in upcoming reports



▪ SUMMARY ▪

This week’s COVID-19 report shows infection levels declining in England, with low levels in Scotland, moderately high levels in Wales, and stable low levels in Northern Ireland. Deaths have slightly decreased but remain high. Hospitalisations and acute respiratory incidents have reduced, while ICU admissions remained stable. Vaccination uptake continues among vulnerable groups and older adults.

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

  Something doesn’t appear to be right when looking at the data that reports number of COVID cases in hospital and compares this with the number of people testing positive. Since Feb 2024, the number of cases ‘reported’ are almost equal to number of patients in hospital with COVID?
— Dr Joe Pajak






▪ Variant Data


▪ VARIANT – ANALYSIS ▪

Key observations: The KP.3.1.1 variant remains the most dominant, significantly outpacing others, though it is in decline, while the XEC variant, now also representing a large proportion of cases in the UK, is still gaining traction.

The three other main variants (MC.1, MC.13, MC.10, and MC.16) have much lower prevalence. The findings suggest a mix of co-circulating variants with reduced dominance across the UK.




▪ 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 slight decrease in weekly deaths. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 has now reached 242,983, 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

‘Long COVID has major impacts on productivity and informal care needs. The high national prevalence of LC (in the UK) likely implies substantial monetary values of over £5.7 billion from productivity losses and £4.8 billion from informal caregiving costs.’ link.springer.com/article/10.1...

— @DrJoePajak (@drjoepajak.bsky.social) 2024-11-15T02:15:51.456Z

‘The majority of those living with Long COVID are from the economically active age group, so employers need to find a way to support these workers & accommodate their needs.’ Dr Karen Michell @IOSH_tweets Key to the UK’s long-term health & wellbeing. iosh.com/news-and-opi...

— @DrJoePajak (@drjoepajak.bsky.social) 2024-11-11T02:37:30.113Z






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