Latest Stats

[SteveH]

Covid infections are continuing to fall in the UK, dropping by more than half a million in a week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Roughly 2.6 million people had the virus in the week to 26 July, compared to 3.2 million the previous week.

The number of people in hospital with the virus is also decreasing.

But experts warn there is still a lot of Covid around, with data estimating one in 25 people in England currently have the virus.

Vaccines are helping protect people from severe illness, however.

In the latest ONS report, for the week ending 26 July , the estimated Covid rates were:

One in 25 in England - down from one in 20 the week before
One in 30 in Wales - down from one in 19
One in 17 in Northern Ireland - down from one in 16 (although experts say the trend is uncertain)
One in 20 in Scotland - down from one in 19
"Our most recent data suggests that infection rates have continued to decrease across much of the UK, although rates still remain high," said Dr Rhiannon Yapp, co-lead for the ONS survey.

Read more https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62435912

[SteveH]

Prof. Tim Spector from King's College London is back with the latest from the Covid tracker and health study..........

Tim's latest video, explores the latest news and rates on monkeypox, as well as the plummeting daily COVID cases, the most recently recorded COVID symptoms, and news of the Autumn vaccine programme and possible new BA5 vaccine, and data on hypertension, how can high blood pressure affect your health, there's even a chance for you to get involved with the latest ZOE study on blood pressure.

Short video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYH8l9f9eo4

[SteveH]

The number of people infected with coronavirus in the UK is continuing to fall, Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show.

Its latest data estimates 1.7 million people - about one in 40 of us - would have tested positive two weeks ago.

That is down significantly from 3.5 million in early July and school holidays may be part of the reason.

The number of people dying with Covid or being admitted to hospital with the virus is also falling.

The ONS infection survey tests a random bunch of homes to track the virus, so their figures are not affected by the fact most of us are not testing any more.

Its analysis shows the virus is on the slide in nearly all age groups and corners of the UK. Only in north-east England and in older teenagers/young adults are there signs the fall may have levelled off.

The cases are nearly all one of the newer forms of the Omicron variant known as BA.4 and BA.5 - together they make up 19 out of every 20 cases.

The fall in infections will be widely welcomed, however, attention is already turning to this winter and how the NHS will cope if there is a surge in Covid alongside other infections such as flu.

Read more https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62606507

[SteveH]

This report from the Covid Tracker study is a bit of a wake up call, especially for the vulnerable, 144,000 cases at the moment rising to 500,000 cases in Oct. ..........I would recommending watching this short video

Prof. Tim Spector from King's College London is back with the latest from the Covid tracker and health study..........

Tim gets COVID booster as rates climb again

This week Tim's looking at the latest COVID rate increases, discussing whether or not we should be taking the new COVID booster vaccine this autumn, and what exactly makes this one different from previous boosters.

Video with updated stats.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQq91Z3ssqQ

[SteveH]

Update on above from Dr John Campbell, explaining the stats mentioned above in greater detail on behalf of Prof Spector, again emphasising the need to take extra care especially for the vulnerable..........

Short video Covid infections increasing again   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKQSKeGuDqU

[SteveH]

Prof. Tim Spector from King's College London is back with the latest from the Covid tracker and health study..........

This week, Tim looks at the high rates of cold-like illness reported in the app, which age groups are driving this and the top symptoms of both so you know what to look out for. He also talks about COVID rates and how effective the autumn boosters are.

Stats for Covid infections now 216,419 daily fig........R No. 1.1......and approx 1 in 26 people have the virus.

Short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIeUtQsfur8

[SteveH]

Check out todays Covid news thread........ UK covid slowing, North Wales concerning  ?

Prof. Tim Spector from King's College London is back with the latest from the Covid tracker and health study..........

This week, Tim looks at the the latest on slowing COVID rates and why that?s likely to continue into winter.

You?ll also get insights from our Blood Pressure Study and Big Diet Study

Short video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRqwgKfF_BM

[SteveH]

Down, but not out...........

Covid infections have fallen in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The ONS figures show levels have increased in Northern Ireland and the trend is uncertain in Scotland.

Overall about 1.9 million people have the virus, or one in 35 people. This down from 2 million, or one in 30, the week before.

But experts warn levels are still high in the over-70s and say vaccines are key.

Other viruses, including flu, are on the rise.

cont/stats https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63516044

[SteveH]

An average of 1,564 extra deaths per week

Throughout 2020 it was 315
Throughout 2021 it was 1,322
24,440 non covid deaths since May, 2022
Deaths registered, UK, week ending 21 October 2022  13,463
15.7% above the five-year average = 1,822 excess deaths
1,379 in week up to 23 March, 2020

Above stats from Dr John Campbell video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGZJfVR9-wo


Rising non-Covid excess deaths reveal the disastrous legacy of the pandemic
Experts believe higher deaths from heart complaints and diabetes mean the indirect effects of the pandemic will be greater than Covid itself

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/10/29/disastrous-legacy-left-lockdown-non-covid-excess-deaths-overtake/

[SteveH]

Covid infections have fallen in England and Wales, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The ONS figures show levels have increased in Northern Ireland and the trend is uncertain in Scotland.

Overall about 1.9 million people have the virus, or one in 35 people. This down from 2 million, or one in 30, the week before.

But experts warn levels are still high in the over-70s and say vaccines are key.

Other viruses, including flu, are on the rise.

The ONS estimates of Covid infections are based on tests carried out a few weeks ago on people in households across the UK whether or not they have symptoms.

In the UK nations, Covid infected:

one in 35 people in England, from one in 30 the previous week
one in 40 in Wales, from one in 35 the week before
one in 30 in Northern Ireland, increasing from one in 35
one in 35 in Scotland - the same as the week before

cont plus stats  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63516044

[SteveH]

Latest Wales Covid figures show one in 70 people with the virus as numbers rise
An estimated 43,400 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Wales in the week ending November 24

As temperatures plummet, the number of respiratory infections in North Wales is expected to rise. Alongside Covid, health experts are battling flu, RSV and Strep A infections as winter pressures increase.

In the week ending November 24, an estimated 43,400 people tested positive for Covid-19 in Wales. This means around 1.43% of the population - or around 1 in 70 people - had the virus, which is up from 1.3% the previous week.

Latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus has increased in England and Northern Ireland, but the trend in Wales and Scotland was "uncertain". Experts said they had received a smaller sample of swab test kits in Wales due to postal strikes, making it difficult to predict what could be in store in coming weeks.

ONS added that lower numbers of test results meant some results "may have more uncertainty and be subject to change". Though the experts were unable to conclusively identify a trend in Wales, analysis of the previous infection survey shows a rise in positive cases.

The estimated number of people testing positive for Covid in Wales in the week leading up to November 22 was 39,600 - this figure had jumped to 43,400 by November 24. The ONS Infection Survey for Wales published on December 9 also showed an increase in the percentage of the population testing positive for Covid.

This figure increased from 1.39% on November 18 to 1.51% on November 24. ONS estimated there were around 3,600 new cases in Wales between November 18 and 24.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/latest-wales-covid-figures-show-25711351

[SteveH]

More than 650,000 deaths were registered in the UK in 2022 - 9% more than 2019.

This represents one of the largest excess death levels outside the pandemic in 50 years.

Though far below peak pandemic levels, it has prompted questions about why more people are still dying than normal.

Data indicates pandemic effects on health and NHS pressures are among the leading explanations.

Is it Covid?
Covid is still killing people, but is involved in fewer deaths now than at the start of the pandemic. Roughly 38,000 deaths involved Covid in 2022 compared with more than 95,000 in 2020.

We are still seeing more deaths overall than would be expected based on recent history. The difference in 2022 - compared with 2020 and 2021 - is that Covid deaths were one of several factors, rather than the main explanation for this excess.

So what else might be going on?.............cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-64209221

[SteveH]

Covid in Wales: What do the stats tell us?    A very interesting report, I recommend reading it fully.

What can statistics tell us about coronavirus in Wales?

Here we update some of the key weekly and monthly data for measuring the pandemic and also assess some of the key Covid-19 indicators over the past three years.

We are now at a "Covid stable" stage of the pandemic, but a watch is still being kept on infection estimates and the numbers of people being admitted to hospital and deaths during the winter period.

Cont. plus stats and full report...........  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52380643?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

People from ethnic minority backgrounds are no longer significantly more likely to die of Covid-19, new Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows.

Analysts looked at mortality rates for different ethnic communities between January and November 2022, when Omicron was the dominant Covid variant.

Early in the pandemic, deaths involving coronavirus were higher among black and Asian people than white people.

The highest risk was among Bangladeshi, Black Caribbean and Pakistani groups.

Covid mortality rates for all ethnic minorities decreased last year. The latest data shows there is no significant statistical difference between the number of Covid deaths among ethnic minorities and the white population.

The ONS also said that "all cause" mortality rates - measuring how likely people are to die of any cause, including Covid-19 - have returned to pre-pandemic patterns.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-64732567

[SteveH]

Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Stats shown from latest available Government data - Source: UKHSA & DHSC
New cases in the last complete* 7 days
Conwy: 12
-36.8% vs prev week
Total UK cases
22,238,713
Daily UK cases
6,338
Total UK deaths
177,977
England
19,922,057
Scotland
1,955,185
Wales
872,498
N.Ireland
713,294
New cases nearby*
Most new cases*
Denbighshire
16
+77.8%
Isle of Anglesey
2
-75%
Gwynedd
4
-42.9%
Flintshire
5
-44.4%
Wirral
62
-7.5%