News Focus

Incidences of COVID-19 are rising, with a new variant having been discovered, The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced.

According to the organisation, COVID-19 case rates continued to increase this week compared to the previous report. A total 7.1% of 4,303 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were identified as COVID-19. This is compared to 5.4% of 4,396 from the previous report. Positivity for pillar one laboratory confirmed cases for week 32 was 10.8 per 100,000 population. The overall COVID-19 hospital admission rate for week 32 was 3.00 per 100,000 population, an increase from 1.97 per 100,000 in the previous report. ICU admission rates have increased to 0.08 compared to 0.05 in the report. Hospital admission rates have increased in all age groups, except those aged 15 to 24 years.

‘The latest data shows that COVID-19 cases continue to rise. To help combat the spread of the virus, we continue to advise that anyone with symptoms of a respiratory infection should try to stay at home and away from others – especially those who are vulnerable. Hospitalisations are also increasing, but still remain at very low levels. ICU admissions have increased in this week's report, but remain extremely low. We will continue to monitor these rates closely,’ said Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency.