Blogs > Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic weekly update for Malvern SeniorsClick to read our observations on politics and world events 12th June 2022 CASES OF COVID-19 AND HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS BEGINNING TO RISE IN ENGLAND, BUT DEATHS CONTINUING TO FALL PreambleFor more than 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. During the epidemic Public Health England was split into the UK Health Security Agency and Office for Health Improvements and Disparities. However for simplicity, in this blog, we have continued to refer to this as PHE data. Testing is being run down and the public can no longer record the result of Lateral Flow tests so the daily cases reported on the Coronavirus Dashboard grossly underestimate the actual situation. The only sources of data indicating direction of travel are now:
Now the epidemic is all but over the numbers are of far less importance, but we'll carry on with our blog for a while longer. This page will continue to be updated each weekend using Friday's data, nominally with Sunday's date. ContentsFurther information: About the NHS contact tracing app SummaryThere was no update last week due to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations which could lead to a ripple of new cases with subsequent hospital admissions and deaths in 2 to 4 weeks time. The ONS reports even prior to the Jubilee cases were already show signs of rising, and hospital admissions and COVID bed occupancy have risen in the last week. Deaths however have continued to fall and we judge there are currently only 300 or so deaths per week from COVID in England and Wales. While social behaviour is mostly returning to normal and the majority of healthy people have stopped taking COVID precautions, some cautious and clinically vulnerable individuals with low immunity are still being careful. Don't forget the prevalence of COVID is still quite high and you can catch COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated. Some may show few symptoms and quickly get over it. Others could feel quite poorly and spend a few days in bed, with it taking five to ten days or so to recover. However, except for very 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. Some of those who have caught COVID report either reduced stamina and endurance, and feeling tired for some weeks afterwards, or a reduced sense of taste and smell. To counter vaccine waning and reduce the likelyhood of hospitalisation amongst the most vulnerable, a second COVID-19 booster jab is available to Seniors aged 75+ years known as the Spring Booster. Most should have had the Spring booster by now. 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 for Worcestershire Dashboard and associated links Monkeypox virus alertOutbreaks of Monkeypox are being detected in Europe and the UK. No cases reported in Worcestershire, but something to keep an eye on. It's a serious and now a notifiable disease. Click below for European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control factsheet:- Factsheet for health professionals on Monkeypox The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has detected 18 additional cases of monkeypox in England, and one additional case in Scotland. This brings the total number confirmed in the UK to 321 as of 7 June. There are currently 305 confirmed cases in England, 11 in Scotland, 2 in Northern Ireland and 3 in Wales. This compares to 106 cases a fortnight ago and suggests to us that more effort needs to be made to contain the spread. Click link: Monkeypox cases confirmed in England - latest UKHSA update The good news for Seniors is that vaccination for Smallpox, which we mostly had as children, should give protection from Monkeypox. How to get vaccinated for COVID-19Note: by now we expect most Seniors are fully vaccinated and if so you can skip this section. Children aged 5 - 11 years can be offered the vaccine, though only 10% or so have had a first dose in England. This may be because either 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: 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: 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 vaccinationsVaccinometerOur bar chart below shows the total number of:
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. The vaccination story is mixed. Vaccines protected the majority of the population from the Delta variant. We were then told 3 doses would be necessary to protect from the Omicron variant, yet only 60% of the population has had 3 jabs, and this protection has been waning while new variants of concern such as BA.4 and BA.5 are emerging. Fortunately, vaccination amongst Seniors is pretty good and we have been offered a Spring Booster to top up our protection. Amongst the population as a whole, the build up of natural immunity following infection could become the nation's chief protection, in the absence of 'longer lasting' vaccines. Vaccination statistics are now of little relevance but can be found on the Vaccination tab of the Coronavirus Dashboard. First booster jabsThe government says everyone aged 18+ years has been offered a (first)booster jab. To date about 50M have had two doses, and 40M booster doses have been administered, suggesting 10M 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 SeniorsThose 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 should be by the end of May 2022. 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 - our invitation came by email followed a week later by a letter. 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 appointments at the Three Counties Showground (see links in 'how to get vaccinated section' for days and times). Clinics may be suspended during large events. Click to book a Coronavirus vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk) Click for NHS England COVID-19 Vaccination statistics
Protection against hospitalisationAfter 3 months the vaccines give little protection from catching the Omicron variant of COVID-19 but importantly they do protect from going on to develop severe illness. The UKHSA COVID-19 vaccine surveillance reports indicate the possible effectiveness of the vaccines. Note: the information is somewhat sketchy for the recent Omicron variants which fortunately cause less severe illness but this section gives a rough idea of the value of vaccination. To quote from an earlier report:
Effectiveness against mortalityThe 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 50% 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 those who die are elderly, most of the elderly population is vaccinated, and the vaccines are not 100% effective. Here is a link to the latest report so you can make up your own mind about the effectiveness of the vaccines. Click for UKHSA COVID-19 vaccine surveillance report Week 19, 12th May 2022 Note: the next report will be in a months time, on 16th June 2022. Vaccinations WorldwideA 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 casesThere are now three sources reporting the prevalence of COVID-19 in the UK.
ONS infection surveyONS estimated that 797,500 people in England had COVID-19 in the week ending 2nd June 2022; 8% less than a fortnight ago, but ONS say there are signs infections have begun increasing in England. Click for Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK: 10th June 2022
Prevalence of COVID-19 in England estimated by ONS Zoe Health StudyThe ZOE Health Study figures are shown in the following table.
Prevalence of COVID-19 in UK estimated by Zoe Health Study According to the more up to date Zoe figures, there is roughly the same level of COVID as two weeks ago. There is still a lot of COVID about and it looks as though the fall in cases is levelling off and cases could go up next week following the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Numbers testing COVID positive in Worcestershire (PHE)Note: section deleted due to COVID testing being run down in the UK; figures can still be found on the Worcestershire Coronavirus dashboard - but these greatly underestimate the true number of infections. The direction of travel in Malvern is up. Click for Worcestershire Coronavirus Dashboard Number of deathsStatistics 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 that COVID weekly deaths are steadily falling. PHE figuresOn 23rd May the presentation of deaths on the Coronavirus Dashboard was changed. Deaths following a positive test are now shown for each nation by the date of death, rather than the date the case was included in the published totals. The chart of COVID (28) deaths, following a positive test, by date of death shows that the 7 day average peaked in England at 240 deaths per day about 10th April and since then deaths have steadily fallen to about 40 per day at the end of May. Click to view the UK government Coronavirus Dashboard ONS figuresThe 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 have been a secondary cause of death. 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 27th May (week 21 of 2022) is shown below. Note: the numbers are from summation of rows 9 to 339 of the ONS Death Registrations-Pivot table, which gives the provisional total of deaths reported in any week, which can be distorted by delayed reporting over public holidays. Deaths by 'date of death' is a more accurate metric but takes longer to be confirmed.
Provisional cumulative COVID-19 deaths in Worcestershire registered by ONS to 27th May 2022 There was 1 death in hospital in Bromsgrove; 1 death in hospital in the city of Worcester; 1 death in hospital in Wychavon; and 1 death in hospital in Wyre Forest. In England and Wales 410 COVID-19 related deaths were reported in the week to 27th May, 136 less than the week before and a fall of 25%. Of these 81 were in a care home, 40 at home, 9 in a hospice, 276 in hospital and 4 elsewhere. The week before there had been 7 COVID deaths in Worcestershire - in England and Wales 546 COVID-19 related deaths were reported in the week to 20th May, 173 less than the week before that and a fall of 24%. Of these 106 had been in a care home, 56 at home, 16 in a hospice, 361 in hospital and 7 elsewhere. If the rate of fall continues to be 25% per week, then about 310 deaths can be expected in Week 22 ending 3rd June.
ONS provisional deaths 'by week reported' in England and Wales 2022 Note: the step in the chart above was probably due to delayed reporting over the Easter and Mayday holidays and the grey blobs indicate a smoothed curve. The figures on the Coronavirus Dashboard of ONS deaths by date on the death certificate shows ONS England deaths peaked at 182 deaths per day on 8th April and by 13th May had fallen to 54. We judge that, COVID deaths in England are currently running at about 40 per day. In comparison averaged over recent years 1,700 people die daily from all causes in the UK, so COVID deaths in England now represent only 2% of UK deaths. Click for ONS Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights: Deaths NHS England figures for WorcestershireTithe table below shows the latest COVID deaths in Worcestershire hospitals reported by NHS England on 10th June 2022. Because the numbers are small they tend to go up and down week to week.
Excludes deaths in care homes, deaths at home and deaths in hospices. 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 (unchanged)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.
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 numbersThe UK government Coronavirus Dashboard includes information about healthcare statistics and NHS bed occupancy.
Headline summary of patients in hospital reported on 10th June 2022 Figures are now recorded for each nation separately; due to the Platinum Jubilee holiday we do not have last week's dashboard figures to compare. Bed numbers by region in EnglandTabulated figures for COVID bed occupancy in England can be found on the NHS England website and are another indicator 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.
Comparison of All beds COVID data for England, London and Midlands In the last week the number of COVID-19 General and Acute beds rose by 10% in England, 9% in London and 8% 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. Worcestershire hospital bedsBetween 30 May 2022 and 5 June 2022, 22 patients went into hospital with coronavirus. This shows a decrease of 33% compared to the previous 7 days. There were 33 patients in hospital with coronavirus on 7 June 2022, none on a ventilator. Click for Summary of Malvern numbers on the Coronavirus dashboard This link also reports deaths. Deaths in Malvern HillsBetween 30 May 2022 and 5 June 2022, there have been 2 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test. Forecast for the week aheadNote: 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 about 310 in Week 22 ending 3rd June, to be reported on 14th June. In the county of Worcestershire, based on 22 new hospital cases last week and assuming the ratio of deaths to be 1:11 of admissions, then up to 2 deaths per week can be expected at the end of June. Nationally it looks as though COVID related NHS hospital admissions and bed occupancy will both go up next week due to increased mingling, the Platinum Jubilee holiday, and variants BA.4 and BA.5 being slightly more infectious. Longer term outlookWe seem to have entered 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. Omicron BA.1 became predominant in the New Year, followed by BA.2 but already new variants under investigation including BA.4 and BA.5 represent about 50% of UK cases. Daily cases may level off at between 50,000 and 100,000 new cases per day in the summer and possibly 4% of those infected might suffer from symptoms of Long COVID - so best to avoid the virus if you can. See summary of links section for UCL and IHME modelling projections. The latest UCL long-term projection suggests cases could be relatively low during the summer with certified deaths possibly falling to a minimum of 10 per day. However it looks as though a 'ripple' of cases is just starting which will be amplified by the Jubilee holiday and could lead to additional deaths in a month's time. A further peak in cases is expected in November 2022 when deaths could rise to 200 per day before falling back to about 80 per day during the remainder of the winter. Click for UCL Long-term forecasting of the COVID-19 epidemic Advice for SeniorsThe risk of exposure to the Omicron variant of COVID-19 remains moderate to high in Worcestershire. See our riskometer opposite. During this period of moderately high prevalence, it is likely that, despite being fully vaccinated, many Seniors will at some time or other become ill with one of the Omicron variants of COVID-19, including some, for example, 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:
Recently there have been no more than 10 COVID related deaths per week in Worcestershire which has a population of 600,000 so we currently estimate the risk of death for fully vaccinated Seniors to be less than 1% per year which we judge LOW while the risk of Long COVID is a little higher. Currently the chance of Seniors being hospitalised with COVID-19 in any period of 12 months is less than 4% which we judge moderately LOW. Most 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:
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 Zoe Health Study people suggest that if you have symptoms of a common cold there is a 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 variants are highly infectious. AnnexCommentaryThis weekThe latest ONS survey suggests the prevalence of COVID is just beginning to rise, and this is backed up by hospital admissions rising in the last week. The Platinum Jubilee holiday could be a super-spreader event causing cases to rise further next week. Prof Tim Spector (Zoe Health study) thinks only 4% of patients now get Long COVID, and most have recovered after 4 weeks. Possibly up to 2M people are currently suffering from long COVID which reflects the high prevalence, but the good news is that Omicron seems to cause less severe Long COVID than Delta. We are seeing fewer cases of COVID in our circle which may be because many had it a month or so ago. The Archbishop of Canterbury had COVID so missed giving the Platinum Jubilee sermon in St Paul's on Friday 3rd June. Prince Andrew also had COVID and missed the service. Nicola Sturgeon recovered from COVID in time to attend the Jubilee events. COVID video updatesLinks to the Zoe Health Study and Independent SAGE weekly updates can be found here:- Click to watch Zoe Health Study update on 9th June 2022 presented by Tim Spector. The Zoe COVID Symptom Study has been renamed the ZOE Health Study and will analyze wider health issues for participants. Updates are now every 2 weeks. Click to watch Independent SAGE update on 10th June 2022 The recent fall in cases appears to have levelled off and it's possible there could be another 'wave' of cases followed by rising hospital admissions and deaths in 2 to 4 weeks time. List of vaccinesModerna is developing a new version of its vaccine designed to protect from both Wuhan and Omicron strains. Here is the updated list of COVID-19 vaccines ordered by the UK. It looks as though the government has settled on the use of Pfizer and Moderna with Astrazeneca now 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. The government has signed deals to buy 114 million additional doses of the Pfizer (54M) and Moderna (60M) vaccines to use in 2022 and 2023. 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
Table of vaccines ordered by the UK government
Present rate of detected new casesNote: this data is no longer considered reliable due to the slashing of testing 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 testClick 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 testLateral 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. 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.
(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
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.
Nose swab home test kit obtained from Murrays
About the COVID Symptom Study app (Zoe)Note: renamed the Zoe Health Study in May 2022. 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 PassAn 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.
Summary of LinksSome of this information is now out of date but provides a historical context to the epidemic. Information about Coronavirus can be found on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
SymptomsNote: the list of symptoms was updated on 1st April 2022 Article about the effects of Wuhan Coronavirus on the human body
Reporting and how to obtain a testHow to get a test https://www.nhs.uk/coronavirus About joining the Zoe COVID Symptom Study:
GuidanceUK government Coronavirus guidance See also - government sets out next steps for living with COVID COVID-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021 for England UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) website
COVID Alert statesGuidance on UK COVID-19 alert level methodology: an overview COVID-19 Alert Level lowered to 3 on 10th May 2021
TiersGuidance on tiers: what you need to know Government postcode checker to find tier for other areas
StatisticsUK government COVID-19: Omicron daily overview UK government Coronavirus Dashboard Coronavirus Dashboard Interactive Map ONS data on deaths in England and Wales (Excel spreadsheet) NHS England COVID-19 Daily Deaths NHS England COVID-19 Hospital Admissions NHS England vaccination statistics Worcestershire Coronavirus Dashboard Worcestershire COVID-19 Vaccinations Dashboard
HSA COVID-19 vaccine weekly surveillance reports Information about NHS hospital bed numbers: past, present, future
A glimpse of the worldwide vaccination situation can be found on the Our World in Data website. Click for chart showing % vaccinated
ModellingA forecast of the progression of the COVID-19 epidemic can be found on a University College London (UCL) website. Click for UCL Long-term forecasting of the COVID-19 epidemic A projection of the future COVID-19 death toll and daily deaths can be found on The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation website. Click for IHME projection of COVID-19 deaths
ReportsCoronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights by ONS A live roundup of the latest data and trends about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from the ONS and other sources.
The bigger pictureWorldometer summary of coronavirus cases worldwide European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control info https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019-ncov-cases World Health Organisation info
Window on the USACentre for Disease Control (CDC) Find maps and charts tracking cases, deaths, and trends of COVID-19 in the United States. American Association of Retired People (AARP)
WorcestershireA local summary of COVID data can be found on the Worcestershire Coronavirus Dashboard. Note 1: use the arrow <> buttons at the bottom of the Dashboard screen to move between pages. Note 2: the figures for COVID cases are becoming meaningless as testing is run down. Note 3: deaths are on page 7, and hospital beds on page 9. Click for Worcestershire County Council COVID-19 news There is a colourful webpage offering advice on learning to live with COVID for those aged under 30 years. 'Rona' is slang for Coronavirus. Click for The Worcestershire 'Rona' Hub Click for Simple Summary of Malvern numbers on the Coronavirus dashboard
MiscellaneousSpanish Flu Dr Jeff Kildea's commentary about the 1919 outbreak of Spanish Flu in Australia
Views of Martin McKee, Professor of European Public Health Follow Martin McKee on Twitter Views of Prof Christina Pagel, a member of Independent SAGE Follow Christina Pagel on Twitter
SAGE membership Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE)
Scottish government: Link to Scottish Government website Link to Postcode checker for COVID restrictions by protection level in areas of Scotland
Welsh Government: Guidance on COVID alert levels in Wales
The interpretations and opinions expressed are our own |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last updated 12th June 2022 |