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Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic weekly update for Malvern Seniors

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8th May 2022

CASES OF COVID-19 AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS FALLING

Preamble

Over the last two years we have been keeping an eye on the published government figures and monitoring the media to asses the likely level of risk for Seniors in the Malvern Hills district and providing links to where further information could be found.

Now the worst of the epidemic is over the numbers are of far less importance, but we'll carry on with our blog for a while. Testing is being run down and the public is increasingly not recording the result of Lateral Flow tests so the daily cases reported on the Coronavirus Dashboard grossly underestimate the true situation.

The best sources of data indicating direction of travel are now:

The ONS infection survey
Registered deaths (ONS, NHS)
NHS hospital bed occupancy, and
The Zoe COVID Symptom Study

For the time being this page will continue to be updated each weekend using Friday's data, nominally with Sunday's date.

Summary

How to get vaccinated

More about vaccinations

Number of cases

Number of deaths

Healthcare numbers

Forecast for the week ahead

Longer term outlook

Advice for seniors

Annex/commentary

Further information:

How to request a COVID test

About the Zoe COVID symptom study

About the NHS contact tracing app

About the NHS COVID pass

Summary of links

Menu of archived pages

Summary

Barring new variants we are well on our way out of this epidemic in the UK and all the indicators are pointing in the right direction. Most people seem to have stopped taking COVID precautions.

The number of people being infected daily, though high, is steadily falling as the weather improves, natural immunity builds up, and the virus finds fewer people to infect.

NHS COVID bed occupancy is declining at about 20% per week, while the rise in the Omicron death rate reported by ONS, linked to the recent spike in cases, has levelled off and should begin to fall.

All that said, don't forget the prevalence of COVID is still high and many will catch COVID-19 during the next month or so despite being fully vaccinated. Some may feel a little rough and quickly get over it. Others may feel very poorly and spend a few days in bed, with it taking five to ten days to recover. But except for frail elderly patients, the clinically vulnerable and unlucky we are unlikely to be hospitalised and the good news is our resistance to future infection should be greatly increased by natural immunity.

Many people who have caught COVID report feeling tired for several weeks afterwards so when exercising don't overdo things, eat wisely, and allow time to recover your strength.

To counter vaccine waning amongst the most vulnerable, a second COVID-19 booster jab is available to Seniors aged 75+ years known as the Spring Booster. There are about 5M people to vaccinate - most have already had the vaccine, and this programme should be completed by the end of May.

Some surgeries are offering the Spring Booster, but if not you can get it at the Three Counties Showground.

Click for information about Walk-In Clinics

Click for information about the Spring Booster

Click to view our advice

Click for Worcestershire Dashboard and associated links

How to get vaccinated

By now we expect most Seniors are triple vaccinated.

Children aged 5 - 11 years can be offered the vaccine, though only 5% have been vaccinated in England so far. This may be because they have been recently infected or their parents are not keen.

All those aged 16+ years can book a booster 3 months after their second dose.

Click NHS link - Who can get a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

For information about walk-in centres in Worcestershire go to the website:

www.swhealthcare.org.uk

and click the Vaccine Rollout tab at the top of the page.

Click for information about vaccination at the Three Counties Showground

Otherwise either see the NHS website for walk-in opening times and vaccine availability:

www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab

Or click this link for more information and to book a vaccination on-line:

Book a Coronavirus vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Or talk to your GP.

More about vaccinations

Vaccinometer

Our bar chart below shows the total number of:

first jabs;
second jabs;
booster and third jabs;
for comparison, the population of the UK broken down by age band.

COVID vaccination bar chart

Vaccinometer as of 8th April 2022

People are still coming forward to be vaccinated, but the rate is so slow expect to see little change to this chart during 2022.

Vaccination statistics can be found on the Vaccination tab of the Coronavirus Dashboard.

First booster jabs

The government says everyone aged 18+ years has been offered a booster jab. To date about 50M have had two doses, and just over 39M booster doses have been administered, suggesting 10.5M still to boost in the UK; but those under 16 years are not yet eligible so there are probably 6M or so still to get a first booster. A booster is essential to protect Seniors from the Omicron variants and hospitalisation.

Spring booster jabs for Seniors

Those aged 75+ are eligible for a second (Spring) booster which ideally should be 6 months after the first booster. For the youngest in that age group that will be by the end of May. Take up is rumoured to be good.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 after 1st February 2022, and therefore have acquired a degree of natural immunity to Omicron, you may want to consider whether or not you need a second booster. Should you decide to go ahead, you must wait at least 28 days after infection before getting the jab.

You should be contacted by the NHS and invited to book your spring booster when it's due. You may be offered appointment dates from 3 months after your last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But try to book an appointment around 6 months after your last dose to get the best protection from your Spring Booster (check the date on your vaccination card).

New Court Surgery is currently not offering Spring Boosters so you may have to book your booster at a mass vaccination centre, such as the Three Counties Showground, either on-line or by phoning 119.

There are also walk-in appoitments at the The Three Counties Showground (see links in how to get vaccinated section for days and times).

Click to book a Coronavirus vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Good progress is being made and approximately 4M of 5M Spring boosters have been given up to 6th May.

Click for NHS England COVID-19 Vaccinations

Note: we have used the England figure and added 17% for other nations.

Protection against hospitalisation

Note: information is somewhat sketchy, but this section gives a rough idea of the value of vaccination.

The UKHSA COVID-19 vaccine surveillance reports indicate the possible effectiveness of the vaccines. To quote from an earlier report:

Two doses of either AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines was associated with a vaccine effectiveness of only 25 to 35% against hospitalisation following infection with the Omicron variant, after 25+ weeks.

After a Pfizer booster, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalisation started at around 90% dropping to around 85% after 4 to 6 months.

Effectiveness against mortality

The protection offered by the vaccines against death is less clear to us, but our reading of the reports is that if you are taken into hospital and have had only 2 jabs there is roughly a 40% chance you might die compared to the unvaccinated. However after a Booster the relative risk is reduced by a factor of 10.

Most people who die are aged 75+ years and most of these are triple vaccinated; this simply reflects that most of the elderly population is vaccinated and the vaccines are not 100% effective.

Click for UKHSA COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report Week 16, 21st April 2022

Note: from May these reports will be issued fortnightly.

Now the government is reducing testing, gathering statistics about vaccine effectiveness could become more difficult.

Vaccinations Worldwide

A chart of the worldwide vaccination situation can be found on the Our World in Data website.

Click for worldwide statistics

Hint: click the country list on the left hand side of the screen to add or remove countries from the chart.

Number of cases

There are now three sources reporting the prevalence of COVID-19 in the UK.

The ONS which conducts a weekly random survey by collecting nose and throat swabs from the public for PCR tests, and analysis for variants.
The ZOE COVID symptom study, whereby participating members of the public log their symptoms, tests and vaccines.
PHE data gathered from PCR testing and NHS registered Lateral Flow Tests which underestimate infections by a factor of 6 or so.

ONS infection survey

ONS estimated that 1,586,900 people in England had COVID-19 in the week ending 30th April 2022; about 34% less than the week before.

Click for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 6th May 2022

Date published	Prevalence (England)	Ratio of people with COVID
29th April 2022	2,408,300	1:25
6th May 2022	1,586,900	1:35

Prevalence of COVID-19 in England estimated by ONS

Zoe COVID Symptom study

The ZOE COVID Symptom Study figures are shown in the following table.

	Prevalence (UK)	Estimated new infections per day
Last week	2,889,525	148,902
This week	2,207,208	121,849

Prevalence of COVID-19 in UK estimated by Zoe COVID Symptom Study

According to Zoe, in the last week, prevalence in the UK has fallen by 24% and the number of new daily infections by 18%.

Numbers testing COVID positive in Worcestershire (PHE)

Note: section deleted due to COVID testing being run down in the UK, but figures can be found on the Worcestershire Coronavirus dashboard - these greatly underestimate the number of infections.

Click for Worcestershire Coronavirus Dashboard

Number of deaths

Statistics on COVID deaths are published by Public Health England, The Office of National Statistics, and NHS England. These can't be directly compared as they cover different periods, but together the figures paint a picture of the direction of travel which is deaths have levelled off and may be beginning to fall.

PHE figures

Public Health England reports there were 1,300 COVID (28) deaths in UK hospitals and care homes in the last week, by date reported, bringing the cumulative total to 176,212 (including deaths linked to repeat infections). The daily average fell from 223 to 185 deaths per day, a fall of 17%.

Note: part or all of this fall could be due to the reduction in COVID testing resulting in a smaller proportion of cases being detected.

Click to view the UK government Coronavirus Dashboard

ONS figures

The Office of National Statistics (ONS) reports registered deaths in England and Wales where COVID-19 is mentioned somewhere on the death certificate. The ONS figures lag the PHE figures by 10 - 14 days and do not include Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Note: the figures include cases where COVID may only have been a secondary cause of death.

ONS data is now the most reliable indicator and you will see from the chart below the death rate has levelled off.

Click for national ONS data on deaths (Excel spreadsheet)

The ONS figures are broken down by District providing a glimpse of where deaths are occurring. The provisional cumulative total of COVID related deaths in Worcestershire reported by the ONS up to 22nd April (week 16 of 2022) is shown below.

Note: the numbers are from the ONS Death Registrations-Pivot table

Districts of Worcs	Deaths 2020	Deaths 2021	Deaths 2022	Week 16	Population
Bromsgrove	164	142	27	3	98,529
Malvern Hills	61	98	38	2	77,545
Redditch	108	109	21	2	85,317
Worcester	87	134	26	2	103,542
Wychavon	157	154	37	4	126,240
Wyre Forest	171	132	32	2	100,957
TOTAL	748	769	181	15	592,130

Provisional cumulative COVID-19 deaths in Worcestershire registered by ONS to 22nd April 2022

Note: summation of rows 9 to 339 of the ONS deaths Registrations-Pivot table.

There was 1 death in a care home and 2 at home in Bromsgrove; 2 deaths in care homes in the Malvern Hills; 2 deaths in hospital in Redditch; 2 deaths in care homes in the city of Worcester; 2 deaths in care homes and 2 in hospital in Wychavon; and 1 death in a care home and 1 in hospital in Wyre Forest.

Surprisingly 53% of Worcestershire COVID deaths were in care homes this week, and the Malvern Hills has the highest deaths this year, perhaps reflecting the increasing number of care homes.

In England and Wales 1,040 COVID-19 related deaths were reported in the week to 22nd April, 38 more than the week before and a rise of just 3.8%. Of these 219 were in a care home, 90 at home, 27 in a hospice, 699 in hospital and 5 elsewhere.

It's possible the numbers this week were bumped up by delayed reporting over the May Day holiday.

Note

Adding 12% for Scotland and Northern Ireland suggests about 1,165 UK deaths per week or 166 COVID related deaths per day which is about 83% the PHE COVID (28) average of 200 reported on 22nd April.

Now the figure used to be about 50% of COVID (28) deaths, and this suggests to us that COVID (28) deaths may in part be falling due to the reduction in COVID testing - (if people are not tested for COVID they won't die of it).

Click for ONS Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights: Deaths

The next chart shows how ONS deaths are levelling off.

Chart of ONS deaths

ONS deaths in England and Wales by week of 2022

In comparison averaged over recent years 1,700 people die daily from all causes, so COVID deaths are still significant representing 10% of all deaths.

NHS England figures for Worcestershire

The table below shows the latest COVID deaths in Worcestershire hospitals reported by NHS England on 6th May 2022. Because the numbers are small they tend to go up and down week to week.

Worcestershire	Cumulative deaths	Past week
Acute hospitals	1,062	8
Care hospitals	74	1
TOTAL	1,136	9

Click for NHS COVID-19 total announced deaths

Note: look for COVID Total announced deaths sheet, then select tab Deaths by Trust

Risk of COVID-19 death by age band

NHS England provides an analysis of COVID-19 deaths in hospital in England and Wales by age band. Shown below is a snapshot of 8,378 recent deaths for the period 7th January 2022 to 19th March 2022 when most of these deaths will have been from the Omicron variant.

Age band	Number of COVID deaths	% of deaths
0 - 19	19	0.2
20 - 39	81	1.0
40 - 59	557	6.7
60 - 79	2,804	33.5
80+	4,916	58.6

Relative risk of COVID-19 death by age band

The main point to note is those aged 60+ account for 92% of deaths despite young people being more likely to catch COVID.

The risk profile for Omicron appears to be the same as for Delta. Age is the greatest risk factor but remember that because of vaccination the death rate as a proportion of new infections is about ten times lower than in 2020.

Healthcare numbers

The UK government Coronavirus Dashboard includes information about healthcare statistics and NHS bed occupancy.

Hospital COVID cases (UK)	Number	Change since last week
Patients currently in hospital	10,763	-2,264
Patients on ventilation	253	-49
Patients admitted daily	1,018	-338

Headline summary of patients in hospital reported on 6th May 2022

COVID UK beds fell about 17% this week, while hospital admissions fell 25%.

Bed numbers by region in England

Tabulated figures for COVID bed occupancy in England can be found on the NHS England website and these give a good indication of direction of travel:

Click for NHS England COVID-19 Hospital bed Activity statistics

Note: see the latest Daily Admissions and Beds spreadsheets, then look for all COVID beds.

Region	29th April 2022	6th May 2022	15th January 2021
England	9,938	8,170	33,362
London	1,709	1,467	7,811
Midlands	2,100	1,640	5,890

Comparison of All beds COVID data for London and Midlands

In the last week the number of COVID-19 General and Acute beds fell by 18% in England, 14% in London and 22% in the Midlands.

For comparison, the number of beds occupied during the peak of the epidemic in January 2021 is shown in red in the right hand column of the table.

Note: the majority of COVID patients are though to be aged 75+ years.

Worcestershire hospital beds

Between 25th April 2022 and 1st May, 69 patients went into hospital with coronavirus. This shows a decrease of -12% compared to the previous 7 days.

There were 93 patients in hospital with coronavirus on 3 May 2022 of which 2 were on a ventilator.

Click for Summary of Malvern numbers on the Coronavirus dashboard

This link also reports deaths.

Deaths in Malvern Hills

Between 30 April 2022 and 6 May 2022, there have been just 2 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.

Forecast for the week ahead

Note: this week we have changed from forecasting PHE UK figures to ONS weekly deaths in England and Wales.

The number of UK COVID related deaths in England and Wales (as registered by ONS) may increase by up to 1,000 in Week 17 ending 29th April 2022, to be reported on 10th May.

In the county of Worcestershire, based on 69 new hospital cases last week and assuming the ratio of deaths to be 1:11 of admissions, then up to 6 deaths per week can be expected towards the end of May.

Hospital admissions fell about 25% last week, pointing to possibly 750 new COVID patients per day next week.

Longer term outlook

We are entering the endemic stage of the disease with a high background level of infection, expected to dip in the summer and rise in the winter, modulated by new variants to which we may or may not have less protection. New variants under investigation include BA.2.12.1 in the USA, and BA.4 and BA.5 in South Africa which are currently less than 1% of UK cases. Prof Tim Spector guesses daily cases could level off at about 50,000 new cases per day in the summer while Independent SAGE thinks as many as 8% of patients might suffer from Long COVID - so best to avoid infection.

See summary of links section for UCL and IHME modelling projections.

The latest UCL projection is quote:-

The current surge in infections appears to have peaked, with a long-term outlook that can be characterised as a high-prevalence, endemic equilibrium, with fluctuations due to socio-behavioural responses, waning immunity and seasonality effects. The next peak is anticipated in early July.

The 7-day average of daily (certified) deaths per day may fall to a minimum of about 60 per day in late May.

In comparison UK deaths reported by ONS are about 166 per day as of 22nd April 2022.

The UCL charts do not currently rule out deaths rising to 200 or more deaths per day next winter.

Click for UCL Long-term forecasting of the COVID-19 epidemic

Advice for Seniors

The risk of exposure to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is still reported HIGH in Worcestershire, though we are hearing of fewer cases in our social circle and extended family.

See our riskometer opposite.

During this period of high prevalence, it is likely that, despite being triple vaccinated, many Seniors will at some time or other become ill with the Omicron variant of COVID-19, including some who had the Delta variant before Christmas.

How this affects us will depend on any previous exposure to the virus giving some natural immunity, and vaccination status.

Those most at risk are said to include:

Seniors aged 75+ years who have not been fully vaccinated;
Seniors aged 75+ whose first booster may be waning;
Pregnant women who have not been vaccinated.

Recently there have been no more than 15 COVID related deaths per week in Worcestershire which has a population of 600,000 so we currently judge the risk of death for fully vaccinated Seniors to be moderately LOW while the risk of Long COVID is a little higher.

Many people are now taking the view that COVID is no longer a critical threat to their health. For the more cautious the simple safeguards to remember are to:

make sure your COVID and Flu vaccinations are fully up to date - you must have a Booster to obtain significant protection from hospitalisation and death.
wash your HANDS thoroughly, using soap and hot water, for 20 seconds, including after handling deliveries to your home, to kill virus picked up from contaminated surfaces (see note 1);
ideally wear either a well fitting FACE covering, or better still an FFP2 face mask when unavoidably near strangers for example when in shops, theatres, health-care settings, and when using public transport;
SPACE at least 2 metres from people you don't feel safe with (see note 2);
preferably socialise with friends and other households outdoors in the FRESH AIR else, if you are indoors, either ventilate by keeping windows open as far as is practicable or put a HEPA air purifier in the room;
avoid crowded indoor settings;
self-isolate for 5 to 10 days to protect others if you feel unwell with cold or flu like symptoms; according to the Zoe COVID Study the current top five COVID symptoms are runny nose, headache, sore throat, tiredness, and sneezing which may be difficult to distinguish from a common cold (see notes 3 and 4);
respect others and give them space.

Notes:

1) Wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face to avoid transferring virus from contaminated surfaces to your mouth, eyes and nose. If outdoors, wash hands with an alcohol based hand gel.

2) Two metres is further than you think - roughly an arm and a walking stick away.

3) The COVID Symptom Study people suggest that if you have symptoms of a common cold there is a fair chance you might have COVID.

4) If you are 'clinically vulnerable' consult your GP or specialist; you may need to take a test and consider anti viral drugs if testing positive.

5) However careful you are, don't be too surprised if you catch COVID as the Omicron variant is highly infectious.

Annex

Commentary

This week

Apart from at health centres, hospitals and the like, people are generally not taking COVID precautions. At a recent Quiz in Guarlford Village Hall 70 people were present, none wore masks and windows weren't opened. On BBC Question Time last night the audience sat shoulder to shoulder and the plastic screens between the members of the panel had been removed.

A few weeks ago we were hearing of many people catching COVID, but fewer this week. The only caution is that there have been some deaths reported in care homes.

Districts of cities in China are in lockdown as China pursues a zero COVID policy. In that they are doomed to fail as tourists and business people traverse the globe. Three doses of the Chinese vaccine are said to give excellent protection from COVID but the take-up is not high, particularly in the elderly population who are wary of contaminated vaccines in the past.

COVID video updates

Links to the Zoe Health Study and Independent SAGE weekly updates can be found here:-

Click to watch Zoe Health Study update on 5th May 2022 presented by Tim Spector.

The Zoe COVID Symptom Study is being renamed the ZOE Health Study and will analyze wider health issues for participants.

Click to watch Independent SAGE update on 6th May 2022

Prof Christina Pagel presents trends in the numbers followed by this week's topic: science and policy.

List of vaccines

Here is the updated list of COVID-19 vaccines ordered by the UK. It looks as though for now the government has settled on Pfizer as first choice with Moderna second and Astrazeneca held in reserve.

Moderna has been offered for Spring Boosters at the Three Counties Showground.

The order for Valneva has been cancelled, but nevertheless it has now been approved for use by MHRA.

Click for BBC report - Valneva Covid vaccine approved for use in UK

Nuvaxoid (Novavax) was approved in February.

For two doses plus boosters, only about 200M doses will be needed in 2021 and Jan/Feb 2022 for the population of the UK. The government has now signed deals to buy 114 million additional doses of the Pfizer (54M) and Moderna (60M) vaccines to use in 2022 and 2023.

Click for press announcement - Government agrees new deals to future proof vaccine rollout in light of new variant

The press announcement goes on to say that 60M doses of Novavax vaccine are expected to be delivered in 2022 and 7.5M doses of GSK/Sanofi, so there seems no intention to cancel these late arrivals.

Click for Guardian report - Novavax expected to be become fourth Covid vaccine available in UK

COVID-19 vaccine	Doses ordered (million)	Status
Pfizer BioNTech, two dose, -70 deg C	40+60+35	Approved, deliveries continuing, made in Belgium (EU). An additional 60M doses have been ordered for booster shots for the most vulnerable in the autumn. A further 35M doses were ordered in August 2021 for delivery in 2022.
Astrazeneca, two dose, fridge	100	Approved for those aged 30+ years; deliveries continuing. Batches made in UK, Belgium and India.
Moderna, two dose, -20 deg C	7+10	Approved. First deliveries to Wales and Scotland 7th April 2021 then England 13th April; mainly for those aged under 50 years awaiting vaccination.
Valneva, two dose	60+40 order cancelled	A jab from French company Valneva will be made in Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. Order cancelled September 2021. Delivery had been expected to start in second half of 2021. Approved by MHRA April 2022.
Janssen, single dose	20	Approved, a jab from Belgian firm Janssen, owned by Johnson and Johnson; UK approval 28th May. Order reduced from 30 to 20M.
Nuvaxovid	60	A jab manufactured by US firm Novavax being made in Stockton-on-Tees UK. Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) contracted to fill and package vials. Approved by MHRA 3rd Feb 2022. JCVI to advise how vaccine will be used.
GSK Sanofi	60	Some delay due to adjusting the formula to give better protection to the elderly; expected approval and delivery of 7.5M doses in 2022.
Curevac	50 ?	Contract placed with German company Feb 2021. Possible source of new variant vaccine; disappointing trial results have resulted in the company working on a second generation vaccine. Future uncertain.

Table of vaccines ordered by the UK government

Present rate of detected new cases

Note: this data is no longer considered reliable and has been deleted. Figures can however still be found on the Coronavirus dashboard.

How to request a COVID test (no longer updated)

Note: this section is largely historical now the population is vaccinated. The government no longer sees testing as important; except in hospitals. The availability of PCR tests is being cut back to save money and Lateral Flow tests are no longer free. Surveillance for new variants of COVID-19 will be mainly based on ONS surveys.

In order to protect others it is important to get a test and self isolate if you feel unwell with either classic COVID symptoms, or cold and flu like symptoms which can be caused by the Omicron variant.;

There are now two types of test you can get. The more accurate PCR test involving a throat and nose swab which is sent to a laboratory for analysis and the Lateral Flow Device test.

Click for government guidance on types of tests

Getting a PCR test

Click the link below for information on how to get a free NHS PCR test if you think you may have Coronavirus:

https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

We feel the website discourages people from seeking a PCR test who don't have all the classic symptoms. If you feel strongly enough, press on answering the questions so as to get your PCR test.

In case of difficulty you can try phoning the Coronavirus contact centre by dialing 119.

Alternatively settle for a 'Nasal swab' Lateral Flow Device test in the comfort of your own home (see below).

According to Google there is a 'drive through' COVID testing station at County Hall near the Countrywide Centre, and a 'walk through' at Pershore.

There is also a COVID testing station at the Worcester Royal Hospital for screening patients before admission.

If you cannot get to these you can order a home PCR test kit.

If you test COVID positive you should ideally self-isolate for 5 days or until you feel better.

Getting a Lateral Flow Device test

Lateral Flow Device tests (LFD) can either be booked at Claremont Pharmacy in Barnards Green, Evans Pharmacy in Malvern Link, or taken at home.

The test is intended to screen those who do not show the classic symptoms of COVID-19 and provides a means to check you are 'virus free' at home - either before visiting an elderly person, going to work, or attending a crowded event. It also provides a means to check whether or not you have Coronavirus if you are feeling poorly with cold and flu like symptoms.

COVID Lateral Flow Device You can collect home test kits, for example packaged as the COVID-19 Self-Test (Rapid Antigen Test) in boxes of 7 tests, from Malvern library, the Co-op, and most pharmacies such as Boots and Murrays in Church Street, Claremont House and Lloyds in Barnards Green, Murrays at Prospect View, Evans and Murrays in Malvern Link, and Boots and Morrisons on the Enigma Retail Park.

If collecting from a pharmacy you now have to go on-line and get a collection code to present to the pharmacy in order to obtain a pack of 7 tests. This involves giving NHS Test and Trace your email and/or mobile phone number and address.

http://www.gov.uk/get-collect-code

The LFD now comes in two versions.

The Throat and Nose Swab kit;
The Nose Swab only kit (Orient Gene, Acon Flowflex and MP Biomedicals).

(Lateral Flow Device cassette shown on the right).

ACON Flowflex comes in a blue and white pack.

Orient Gene comes in a green and white pack.

MP Biomedicals come in a blue, white and grey pack.

Click for instructions for using the LFD test kits

COVID lateral flow test leaflet

Leaflet at Boots the Chemist

Note: from 1st April 2022 you will no longer be able to get a collection code for free tests.

The new Nasal swab test kit which only requires a nose swab is the easiest to use and the best one to get but it is not yet widely available. On 10th November 2021 we found Boots in Church Street and Malvern Library were still supplying the old Throat and Nose kit; Murrays in Church Street had the new kits and Malvern library thought the library in St John's Worcester might have the new kits.

Click for NHS information on Rapid Lateral Flow Test sites and collection sites in Malvern

Hint: to see the list, click on 'filter' and then 'pick up sites for test kits' checkbox.

Click for WCC info about Lateral Flow Tests

In our opinion, many Seniors will find the classic Throat and Nose Swab home test kit difficult to use as you need to rub the tonsils or thereabouts with the swab-stick without touching the tongue, teeth, cheeks, gums or any other surface before swabbing the nose. Doing this standing in front of a mirror on your own without gagging while holding a torch in the other hand, won't be easy unless you have a steady hand and good eyesight.

The Nose Swab kit is by far the best one for testing yourself at home.

If you test COVID positive you should isolate and take a more accurate PCR test to confirm the result.

NHS Test and Trace want people to report the result of their home LFD tests within 24 hours at:

www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

Note: only NHS tests with a QR code can be reported; it is not possible to report privately purchased tests.

This was to help NHS Test and Trace monitor where the issue of the free LFD tests is proving most effective and the spread of the disease.

However, it's tedious to enter your Lateral Flow Test result on the government website and we imagine many people now don't bother.

COVID Lateral Flow test kit

Nose swab home test kit obtained from Murrays

About the COVID Symptom Study app (Zoe)

You can help others by downloading the COVID Symptom Study app onto your smart-phone or Ipad and reporting how you feel either daily, or as you are able. Note there is no desktop PC version for Windows.

For further details click this link: https://covid19.joinzoe.com

The Zoe app, which is easy to use, allows you to report whether or not you are feeling well and if you have had a test for COVID. This helps Kings College London monitor the spread and symptoms of the disease and give advice to government. This is an important source of data as we progress through the EXIT wave.

There are questions allowing you to enter your vaccine type and whether any side effects; this now includes boosters and flu jabs.

About the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app (England)

Release of the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing app for Apple and Android smartphones was announced on 24th September 2020.

Click this link for NHS Coronavirus app information

If you have been close to someone who has tested COVID positive, your smart-phone will be pinged and you may be advised to self-isolate

Note: now isolation is no longer a legal requirement you might as well delete this from your smartphone.

About the NHS app and Covid Pass

An NHS COVID Pass shows your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination details and/or test results. This is your COVID-19 status. You may be asked to show your pass to travel abroad

You will need the NHS app installed on your smartphone and be registered with the NHS in order to display your vaccination status.

Note: this is not the NHS COVID-19 app

If you don't have a smartphone you should be able to login from a PC to obtain a printed copy.

Click to login from a desktop computer or laptop

You can use your NHS login when signing in to report the result of Lateral Flow Device tests taken at home; this has to be done within 24 hours.