Latest COVID 🦠

This week, COVID-19 indicators across the UK remain low, with stable or decreasing trends in most regions. Hospital admissions and deaths show minimal impact, with other respiratory illnesses dominating.

Latest COVID 🦠


▪ COVID-19 Surveillance Data (from UKHSA) ▪

  • COVID-19 activity remained stable across most indicators and was circulating at baseline levels
  • COVID-19 hospitalisations remained stable at 1.82 per 100,000 compared to 1.78 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • COVID-19 ICU admissions remained stable at 0.05 per 100,000 compared with 0.07 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • There were 9 COVID-19 acute respiratory incidents reported in the week
  • The highest hospital admission rate was in the North-East at 2.40 per 100,000, decreasing from 3.42 per 100,000 in the previous week
  • Those aged 85 years and over had the highest hospital admission rate, which remained stable at 17.97 per 100,000 compared with 18.91 per 100,000 in the previous week 
  • Up to the end of the week, 21.7% of those under 65 years in a clinical risk group and 55.9% 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 indicators across the UK remain at relatively low levels. In England, test positivity rates dropped slightly, with stable hospital admissions and case rates. Scotland saw a slight decrease in all measures, including hospital admissions. Wales experienced a small rise in hospital admissions, but rates remained low. In Northern Ireland, COVID-19 levels stayed significantly lower than other respiratory viruses.

Deaths in England and Wales decreased during the three weeks leading to 15 November, aligning with trends from the same period last year. Overall, COVID-19 is less impactful compared to other respiratory illnesses across all regions of the UK.

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: The KP.3.1.1 variant remains the most dominant at 36.3%, but its prevalence is declining. The XEC variant has gained significant traction, now accounting for 28.8% of cases, indicating its growing presence.

Other variants, such as MC.1, MC.13, MC.10, and MC.16, have much lower prevalence, between 1.2% and 2.6%. New variants are emerging, including XDY and MC.2, though they still represent a small proportion of cases.

Overall, the data shows a mix of co-circulating variants, with no single variant overwhelmingly dominant, suggesting a diverse and evolving COVID landscape in the UK.




▪ Vaccination Data

▪ VACCINATION ANALYSIS ▪

Key observations: Booster doses administered dropped to 294,399 last week, totalling nearly 9.1 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 243,391, 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.







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