National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.
Latest update
The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:
Surveillance indicators suggest that at a national level COVID-19 activity decreased in week 4 of 2021, between 25 and 31 January.
Case rates have decreased across all age groups, with the highest rate 358.6 per 100,000 population seen in those aged between 30 to 39 years old.
Case rates per 100,000 have fallen across all regions – they are now highest in the West Midlands with a rate of 319.9.
The number of acute respiratory infection
incidents (suspected outbreaks) in England was 1,100 in week 4, compared to 1,499 in the previous week.The hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was 25.26 per 100,000 in week 4, compared to 33.66 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 have fallen across all regions.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 continue to be highest in the West Midlands with a rate of 37.48.
The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85 and above.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said:
However encouraging it is that case rates and hospitalisations continue to fall across all age groups and regions, it is important to reduce the level of infection in our communities because the rates remain very high. We may have passed the peak but must not become complacent. Dropping our guard at this stage could waste everything we have endured over the last few weeks.
Please remember around one in three people with the virus do not show symptoms – but can still pass it on and make others seriously ill. Stay at home and reduce your contacts. This is the best way to further bring down infections rates and save lives.
Previous updates
Thursday 28 January 2021
The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:
COVID-19
The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:
Surveillance indicators suggest that at a national level COVID-19 case rates continued to decline in week 3 of 2021 between 18 and 24 January, while there was indication that hospital and ICU admissions began to stabilise or decline slightly.
Case rates have decreased across all age groups, with the highest rate 488.3 per 100,000 population seen in those aged between 30 to 39 years old.
The 20 to 29 year old age group has seen the biggest fall in case rates per 100,000 population, from 669.9 in the previous week to 466.3 in Week 3.
Case rates per 100,000 have fallen across all regions, they continue to be highest in London with a rate of 435.0.
London has also seen the biggest fall in case rates per 100,000 population, from 658.7 in the previous week to 435.0 in Week 3.
Positivity rates through Pillar 1 (NHS and PHE testing) and Pillar 2 (community testing) have both decreased compared to the previous week.
The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) in England was 1,499 in week 3, compared to 1,790 in the previous week.
The hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was 33.51 per 100,000 in week 3, compared to 35.64 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 have risen in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 are highest in the West Midlands with a rate of 49.46 in Week 3.
The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85 and above.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said:
There are some initial signs that the current measures are bringing infection rates down but there is still a long way to go. The rate of hospital admissions continues to rise in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Yorkshire and The Humber. We should expect deaths to remain high for some time.
By reducing our contacts and staying at home we will continue to see a fall in infection rates and in time this will lead to a reduction in hospitalisations and deaths.
This situation is tough on all of us and I know many feel anxious and worry about the pandemic – this is only natural. Looking after our mental wellbeing is incredibly important so chat to those close to you, find time to relax and do the activities you enjoy at home.
Thursday 21 January 2021
The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:
COVID-19
Surveillance indicators suggest that at a national level COVID-19 case rates have declined while there was some indication that hospital and ICU admissions began to stabilise during week 2 of 2021, between 11 and 17 January.
Case rates have decreased across all age groups, with the highest rate 647.3 per 100,000 population seen in those aged between 20 to 29 years old.
The 20 to 29 year old age group has also seen the biggest fall in case rates per 100,000 population from 923.2 in the previous week to 647.3 in Week 2.
Case rates per 100,000 have fallen across all regions, they continue to be highest in London with a rate of 629.7.
London has also seen the biggest fall in case rates per 100,000 population from 935.1 in the previous week to 629.7 in Week 2.
Positivity rates through Pillar 1 (NHS and PHE testing) have increased slightly whilst they have decreased through Pillar 2 (community testing) compared to the previous week.
The number of acute respiratory infection incidents in England was 1,790 in week 2, compared to 1,627 in the previous week.
The hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was 35.17 per 100,000 in week 2, compared to 35.50 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 are highest in the West Midlands with a rate of 46.31 in Week 2.
The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85 and above.
Dr Ruth Milton, Director for the COVID-19 response at Public Health England, said:
Case rates are falling in all age groups and regions, but it is important to remember that infections remain extremely high across the country.
Admissions to hospital and critical care remain worrying and are still rising in some parts of the country. This will inevitably lead to more deaths. The need for continued vigilance cannot be stressed enough – we must all continue to follow the rules to help ease the burden on the NHS.
Please be aware that even if you’ve had a vaccine, or believe you’ve had COVID-19 in the past, you may still be able to carry the virus and pass it on to others. It is crucial all of us act as though we’re infected to slow the spread of disease.
Thursday 14 January 2021
The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:
COVID-19
Surveillance indicators suggest that at a national level COVID-19 case rates have declined while hospitalisations, ICU admissions and mortality continued to increase during week 1 of 2021, between 4 and 10 January.
Case rates have decreased across all age groups except in those 80 and above, with the highest rate 879.7 per 100,000 population seen in those aged between 20 to 29 years old.
Case rates per 100,000 continue to be the highest in London, with a rate of 864.9 per 100,000 population.
Case rates have decreased in all locations except for the North West, South West and West Midlands.
Positivity rates through Pillar 1 (NHS and PHE testing) and Pillar 2 (community testing) have both decreased compared to the previous week.
The number of acute respiratory infection incidents in England was 1,627 in week 1, compared to 1,200 in the previous week.
The hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was 37.20 per 100,000 in week 1, compared to 29.50 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 have increased in all regions except for the North East. London continues to have the highest with a rate of 58.19
The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85 and above.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said:
The rate that people are being admitted to hospital is now higher than at any point during the pandemic. We are still seeing thousands of people having to go to hospital each day. Worryingly, these numbers are likely to continue to get worse before we see the benefits of our efforts to protect the NHS, which will mean more pressure for our health service than ever before.
Please act as though you have the virus. Around 1 in 3 of us won’t show symptoms but can still infect others who could become very unwell. This is why we all need to stay at home, so we can protect our NHS and save lives.
Previous updates
Thursday 7 January 2021
The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:
COVID-19
Surveillance indicators suggest that COVID-19 activity at a national level has continued to increase during week 53 between 28 December and 3 January.
Case rates have increased across all age groups, with the highest rate 842.5 per 100,000 population seen in those aged between 20 to 29 years old.
Case rates per 100,000 have increased across all regions and are the highest in London with a rate of 904.8 per 100,000 population.
The West Midlands has seen the highest increase in case rates per 100,000 population, with 530.2 in week 53 compared to 292.6 in the previous week.
Positivity rates through Pillar 1 (NHS and PHE testing) and Pillar 2 (community testing) have both increased compared to the previous week.
The number of acute respiratory infection incidents in England was 1,200 in week 53, compared to 846 in the previous week.
The hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was 27.6 per 100,000 in week 53, compared to 21.51 per 100,000 in the previous week.
Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 have increased in all regions and London is the highest with a rate of 43.38.
The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85.
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said:
I want to pay tribute to staff across the health service who are working flat out to manage this virus and care for patients. The data bring into focus the huge pressure the health service is under. Sadly, we are seeing more deaths each day and these numbers will continue to rise before we see the impact of the nationwide lockdown.
We saw a sharp acceleration in infection rates last week to the highest levels since mass testing began. It is of particular concern that rates are high in those in older age groups who are at risk of more serious illness as well as people in their twenties and thirties.
There is one simple and critical thing we can all do to help control the virus and reduce infection. Stay at home, it will protect the NHS and save lives. We have done this before to great effect and must do so again as we vaccinate the most vulnerable.
Influenza
Flu activity, including GP consultations and hospital admissions, remains low.
Flu vaccine uptake is higher in all groups compared to this time last year.
Provisional data suggests uptake rates are:
- 80.3% in 65+ year olds
- 51.5% in under 65 years in a clinical risk group
- 43.1% in pregnant women
- 54.0% in 2 year olds
- 56.5% in 3 year olds
- 47.5% in school-age children (as of 30 November)
- 70.6% in healthcare workers (as of 30 November)
Dr Vanessa Saliba, Head of Flu at Public Health England, said:
The flu vaccine saves lives. It is therefore very encouraging to see record-high uptake rates this season, especially among the groups most vulnerable to flu, who are also most at-risk from COVID-19.
There is still time to get vaccinated against flu and we urge anyone who is eligible to take up the offer to help protect yourself, your family and the NHS.
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