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Coronavirus UK map: How many confirmed cases are there in your area? Coronavirus UK map: How many confirmed cases are there in your area?
(1 day later)
There have been more than 290,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and more than 45,000 people have died, government figures show. There have been nearly 300,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and more than 45,000 people have died, government figures show.
These numbers only include people who have been tested, and the actual death toll will be higher. These numbers only include people who have been tested, and the actual death toll is higher.
Decline in new cases stalls - and concern over hotspots Decline in new cases stalls amid concern over hotspots
Across the country, the number of newly confirmed cases each day has fallen since a peak in April, although the downward trend does now appears to have stalled. The new coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19, was first confirmed in the UK at the end of January, but the number of daily confirmed cases and related deaths only began to increase significantly by the second half of March.
On Wednesday, a further 538 cases were reported. Lockdown restrictions came into force across the UK at the end of that month and the number of new confirmed cases continued to rise until April, before starting to fall steadily throughout May and June.
However, that the downward trend now appears to have stalled.
On Thursday, a further 642 cases were reported.
Find out how the pandemic has affected your area and how it compares with the national average:Find out how the pandemic has affected your area and how it compares with the national average:
Public Health England figures on coronavirus cases were updated on 2 July to include people tested in the wider community, as well as hospitals and healthcare workers, causing the numbers to increase sharply. Figures for the rest of the UK already included people tested in the wider population.Public Health England figures on coronavirus cases were updated on 2 July to include people tested in the wider community, as well as hospitals and healthcare workers, causing the numbers to increase sharply. Figures for the rest of the UK already included people tested in the wider population.
If you can't see the look-up click here.If you can't see the look-up click here.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said targeted action is being taken against local outbreaks of coronavirus every week. Since some of the March lockdown restrictions were eased, a number of local outbreaks have been identified across the country. Health Secretary Matt Hancock says targeted action is being taken every week against such clusters of infections.
The Lancashire town of Blackburn with Darwen is one of the latest hotspots, where coronavirus infections have spiked. Extra restrictions have been brought in, including tighter limits on visitors from another household, to try to limit the spread of the disease. The Lancashire town of Blackburn with Darwen is one of the latest hotspots, where coronavirus infections have spiked. Extra restrictions have been brought in, including tighter limits on visitors from other households.
Data from Public Health England show that confirmed infections fell by 25% in the week to 5 July. It follows the introduction of local lockdown measures in Leicester at the end of June and beginning of July, when schools and non-essential shops were closed again because of an increase in positive cases. Some of those measures will be eased from 24 July.
There were just over 3,300 positive tests in the week to 5 July compared to 4,400 positive tests in the week to 28 June. Official figures suggest the number of hotspots overall across the UK is declining.
Cases in Leicester, which saw lockdown measures re-imposed on 7 July, have fallen to around 125 per 100,000 compared with about 140 per 100,000 in the previous week. Public Health England data shows that confirmed infections were down by 25% in the week to 5 July. There were just over 3,300 positive tests in the week to 5 July compared to 4,400 positive tests in the week to 28 June.
Under a data-sharing agreement with the Department of Health, local authorities now have access to figures showing the number of people testing positive in the community in their area. Cases in Leicester have also dropped, the figures show.
The chart below shows how the growth in positive cases identified through community testing (pale blue) has become more significant as positive hospital test results (dark blue) have declined.
Deaths in the UK return to normal levelsDeaths in the UK return to normal levels
Figures released on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the number of deaths from all causes registered in a single week has stayed below the five-year average for the third consecutive week. While the fall in the number of new cases of coronavirus appears to have stalled, government-announced deaths have continued to drop since a peak mid-April, though the downward trend has slowed recently.
The new coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19, was first confirmed in the UK at the end of January, but the number of daily confirmed cases and related deaths only began to increase significantly by the second half of March. On Thursday, a further 66 deaths were reported.
Lockdown restrictions came into force across the UK at the end of March and government-announced deaths from coronavirus peaked mid-April. Those figures have been steadily falling since then, though the downward trend has slowed recently. When looking at the overall death toll as a result of the virus, the number of deaths can be measured in three different ways.
On Wednesday, a further 85 deaths were reported. The government's daily announcement counts deaths with a positive test result.
Different ways to measure coronavirus deaths But the Office for National Statistics (ONS) counts death certificates mentioning the virus. This measure suggests there had been more than 55,000 deaths by 3 July.
The number of deaths as a result of the virus can be measured in three ways. The government's daily announcement counts deaths with a positive test result.
But the ONS also counts death certificates mentioning the virus. This measure suggests there had been more than 55,000 deaths by 3 July.
When looking at deaths over and above the expected number for the period of the pandemic - the third way of measuring - the coronavirus death toll rises to almost 65,000 by the same date.When looking at deaths over and above the expected number for the period of the pandemic - the third way of measuring - the coronavirus death toll rises to almost 65,000 by the same date.
This figure is slightly lower than it was last week because for three weeks running there have now been fewer deaths overall in the UK than we would expect for that time of year. If the trend of overall deaths continues to be below average, then the total for this third measure will continue to fall. Figures released by the ONS on Tuesday for this third measure show the number of deaths from all causes registered in a single week has stayed below the five-year average for three consecutive weeks.
Coronavirus accounted for about 6% of all deaths in the UK in the week to 3 July, according to death registration data. This rate has slowly fallen from just over 10% in the middle of June. If the trend of overall deaths continues to be below average, then the total for this third measure will continue to fall.
When deaths from the virus were at their peak back in April, this figure reached almost 40%.
The UK has the highest official death toll in Europe and the third highest in the world, after the US and Brazil.The UK has the highest official death toll in Europe and the third highest in the world, after the US and Brazil.
However both countries have much larger populations than the UK and the number of people who have died per 100,000 people in the UK is currently higher than for either the US or Brazil. However, both countries have much larger populations than the UK and the number of people who have died per 100,000 people in the UK is currently higher than for either the US or Brazil.
The government has argued it is too soon to make definitive international comparisons but, as the impact of the first wave becomes clear in many countries, analysis is beginning to suggest the UK has been the hardest hit of the leading G7 nations.The government has argued it is too soon to make definitive international comparisons but, as the impact of the first wave becomes clear in many countries, analysis is beginning to suggest the UK has been the hardest hit of the leading G7 nations.
Impact differs between nations
The majority of the UK's deaths have been in England, with more than 40,000 so far - about 90% of the total for the UK.The majority of the UK's deaths have been in England, with more than 40,000 so far - about 90% of the total for the UK.
Scotland reported no new deaths on Wednesday and the country's official death toll remains 2,490.
Data on death registrations from the National Records of Scotland (NRS) suggests there had been 4,187 deaths by 12 July. Of the total number of deaths registered in the week to 12 July, there were 13 where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate, a decrease of five from the previous week. The weekly total is the lowest since mid-March.
Northern Ireland also reported no deaths on Tuesday, leaving the total number of people to die there with coronavirus at 556.
Wales reported two more deaths taking the total number of deaths in Wales to 1,545.
What is the R number in the UK?What is the R number in the UK?
The "R number" is the average number of people an infected person will pass the disease on to.The "R number" is the average number of people an infected person will pass the disease on to.
If R is below one, then the number of people contracting the disease will fall; if it is above one, the number will grow.If R is below one, then the number of people contracting the disease will fall; if it is above one, the number will grow.
The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, known as Sage, believes the R number across the whole of the UK is currently between 0.7 and 0.9.The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, known as Sage, believes the R number across the whole of the UK is currently between 0.7 and 0.9.
The government says in England itself it is between 0.8 and 1.0. It is highest in the South West, where it is between 0.7 and 1.1.The government says in England itself it is between 0.8 and 1.0. It is highest in the South West, where it is between 0.7 and 1.1.
The estimate for Scotland is between 0.6 and 1.0. In Northern Ireland, it is between 0.5 and 1.0, while it is between 0.7 and 0.9 in Wales.The estimate for Scotland is between 0.6 and 1.0. In Northern Ireland, it is between 0.5 and 1.0, while it is between 0.7 and 0.9 in Wales.
The government has said that the R number is one of the most important factors in deciding when lockdown measures can be eased.The government has said that the R number is one of the most important factors in deciding when lockdown measures can be eased.
Testing now available to more people
The UK exceeded its target to increase testing capacity to 200,000 a day by the end of May. Testing capacity is now more than 300,000 per day.
On Wednesday the government reported that a further 131,121 tests had been analysed in the previous 24 hours.
In total, more than nine million tests have been processed so far.
Who is most at risk from coronavirus?
Most recorded coronavirus deaths have been among the elderly, with NHS England figures showing more than half of deaths have been among people aged over 80.
The disease appears to disproportionally affect men in their 50s and 60s, and the death rate for men outstrips women across all age ranges.
People with underlying health conditions are also at greater risk regardless of age.
Research by Public Health England (PHE) has also found that people from ethnic minorities have a much higher risk of dying from coronavirus than people of white British ethnicity. But it is still not clear why - the study did not take into account occupations or obesity, which are also known to be high risk factors.
Another study found that South Asian people were the most likely to die from coronavirus after being admitted to hospital. It was the only ethnic group found to have a raised risk of death in hospital, which researchers believe is partly due to high levels of diabetes.
The most deprived parts of England and Wales have been hit twice as hard by coronavirus as wealthier areas, according to the ONS.