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Covid-19 in the UK: How many coronavirus cases are there in your area? Covid-19 in the UK: How many coronavirus cases are there in your area?
(1 day later)
There have been more than 400,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far in the UK and more than 40,000 people have died, government figures show.There have been more than 400,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus so far in the UK and more than 40,000 people have died, government figures show.
However, these figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus and other measures suggest the number of deaths is higher.However, these figures include only people who have died within 28 days of testing positive for coronavirus and other measures suggest the number of deaths is higher.
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.
If you can't see the look-up click here.If you can't see the look-up click here.
The postcode search has been updated to replace data for health boards in Scotland with data for local councils. In England, data for county councils has been replaced with data for district councils. Figures for boroughs and unitary authorities remain unchanged. The postcode search has been updated to replace data for health boards in Scotland with data for local councils. In England, data for county councils has been replaced with data for district councils. Figures for boroughs and unitary authorities remain unchanged. Last updated on 23 September.
Cases and hospital admissions now risingCases and hospital admissions now rising
The government announced 6,178 new coronavirus cases in the UK on Wednesday, the highest daily total since 1 May. After falling from their April peak, confirmed new coronavirus cases in the UK have been rising again since July.
Cases began edging up again in July and recent days have seen the highest daily cases since May, prompting the reintroduction of restrictions on social gatherings across the UK. On Thursday, the country recorded its highest daily increase since mass testing began, with the government announcing 6,634 new cases.
The UK government has announced a further tightening of restrictions in England from Thursday, including a 22:00 closing time for pubs and restaurants, and stated the new rules could stay in place for up to six months. The official number of cases during the peak underestimated the true level of infection at the time, as widespread testing was not available until mid-May. Before then, testing was targeted - mainly being used in hospitals and other care settings.
The Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a similar rule for pubs, restaurants and cafes in Wales will also apply from Thursday. Yvonne Doyle, medical director at Public Health England, said the high number of new cases was a "stark warning for us all".
In Scotland, people will no longer be allowed to visit friends or family at home. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon asked people to start following the rules, though the legislation won't be in place until Friday. "The signals are clear. Positivity rates are rising across all age groups and we're continuing to see spikes in rates of admission to hospital and critical care."
Scotland reported 486 new cases on Wednesday - the highest daily total since the start of the outbreak. People needed to follow measures bought in to control the virus, she said, as well as download the new NHS contact-tracing app, which she described as "the fastest way of knowing when you're at risk".
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told MPs the country had reached a "perilous turning point". The rising number of confirmed cases has prompted tighter restrictions on social activity to be brought in across the UK, including a 22:00 BST closing time for pubs - starting on Thursday in England and Friday in Scotland. In Wales, restrictions are limited to stopping alcohol sales at 22:00 BST from Thursday.
The official number of cases during the peak in the UK underestimated the true level of infection at the time, as widespread testing was not as available until mid-May. Before then, testing was targeted - mainly being used in hospitals and other care settings. People in England have also been told to work from home if they can and in Scotland people will no longer be allowed to visit friends or family at home.
The UK could see 50,000 new coronavirus cases a day by mid-October without further action, the government's chief scientific adviser has warned. The government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has warned the UK could see 50,000 new coronavirus cases a day by mid-October without further action.
Sir Patrick Vallance said that could then lead to about "200-plus deaths per day" a month after that. This could then lead to about "200-plus deaths per day" a month after that, he said.
However the BBC's Health correspondent Nick Triggle says we should be careful about reading too much into a single day's rise in cases, as numbers can fluctuate daily.However the BBC's Health correspondent Nick Triggle says we should be careful about reading too much into a single day's rise in cases, as numbers can fluctuate daily.
What matters now is whether this scale of rise is repeated in the coming days and weeks - and how that translates into hospitalisations and deaths, both of which are going up too, he says.
Spain and France, which both started seeing rises earlier than the UK, have not seen the sort of rapid trajectory that was presented by the advisers, he says.Spain and France, which both started seeing rises earlier than the UK, have not seen the sort of rapid trajectory that was presented by the advisers, he says.
An estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released on Friday suggested that roughly one in 900 people in England had coronavirus in the week ending 10 September. The figure for the previous week was one in 1,400. What matters now is how this rise translates into hospitalisations and deaths, our correspondent adds, both of which are increasing.
An estimate from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), released on Friday, suggested that roughly one in 900 people in England had coronavirus in the week ending 10 September. The figure for the previous week was one in 1,400.
Based on tests in households for current infection, the ONS survey is thought to give one of the most accurate pictures of whether or not new cases are increasing.Based on tests in households for current infection, the ONS survey is thought to give one of the most accurate pictures of whether or not new cases are increasing.
Meanwhile, the number of people admitted to hospital is also slowly rising, but remains well below levels seen earlier this year.
Where are the current hotspots?Where are the current hotspots?
There are several local hotspots in the UK that have seen a spike in cases in recent weeks. There are several local hotspots in the UK that have seen spikes in cases in recent weeks.
The orange areas in the map below are those currently seeing the highest number of cases per 100,000 people. The orange areas on the map below are those currently seeing the highest number of cases per 100,000 people.
Restrictions are now being tightened in many of these areas across the UK. Extra restrictions have been introduced in many areas of the UK - including across the whole of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
The whole of Northern Ireland is now under new restrictions, and four more counties in Wales went into lockdown on Tuesday. In addition to these national measures, parts of Wales, areas in the Midlands, Lancashire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire have seen additional rules imposed.
Similar extra measures were announced in recent days for parts of the Midlands, Lancashire, Merseyside and West Yorkshire.
You can see a full breakdown of the areas under extra restrictions and the types of rules in place here.You can see a full breakdown of the areas under extra restrictions and the types of rules in place here.
Daily deaths starting to riseDaily deaths starting to rise
While the number of new cases has been rising again recently, daily deaths have remained low - although there are now signs of a small increase.While the number of new cases has been rising again recently, daily deaths have remained low - although there are now signs of a small increase.
The government announced 37 new deaths on Wednesday. The total included two deaths in Scotland and two in Wales. No new deaths were reported in Northern Ireland. The government announced 40 new deaths on Thursday. The total included two deaths in Scotland and one in Wales. No new deaths were reported in Northern Ireland.
In August, the government's death toll in England was reduced by 5,340 following a review of the way coronavirus deaths are counted.In August, the government's death toll in England was reduced by 5,340 following a review of the way coronavirus deaths are counted.
New rules mean deaths anywhere in the UK are included in the coronavirus total only if they occurred within 28 days of a positive test. Previously in England, all deaths after a positive test were included.New rules mean deaths anywhere in the UK are included in the coronavirus total only if they occurred within 28 days of a positive test. Previously in England, all deaths after a positive test were included.
England has seen the majority of UK deaths from Covid-19. Using the 28-day cut-off, there have been just over 37,000.England has seen the majority of UK deaths from Covid-19. Using the 28-day cut-off, there have been just over 37,000.
Overall death toll could be more than 60,000Overall death toll could be more than 60,000
When looking at the overall death toll from coronavirus, official figures count deaths in three different ways.When looking at the overall death toll from coronavirus, official figures count deaths in three different ways.
Government figures count people who tested positive for coronavirus and died within 28 days.Government figures count people who tested positive for coronavirus and died within 28 days.
But there are two other measures.But there are two other measures.
The first includes all deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, even if the person had not been tested for the virus. The most recent figures suggest there had been nearly 57,000 deaths by 11 September.The first includes all deaths where coronavirus was mentioned on the death certificate, even if the person had not been tested for the virus. The most recent figures suggest there had been nearly 57,000 deaths by 11 September.
The third method looks at all UK deaths over and above the number usually expected for the time of year - known as excess deaths. This measure shows the death toll was above 64,000 by 11 September.The third method looks at all UK deaths over and above the number usually expected for the time of year - known as excess deaths. This measure shows the death toll was above 64,000 by 11 September.
There were just under 11,145 deaths registered in the UK in the week ending 11 September, higher than the five-year average. But it is thought this was caused by a delay in reporting some deaths over the August Bank Holiday.There were just under 11,145 deaths registered in the UK in the week ending 11 September, higher than the five-year average. But it is thought this was caused by a delay in reporting some deaths over the August Bank Holiday.
These figures from the ONS also show that, for the second time since March, there were fewer than 100 deaths in a week in the UK mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate.These figures from the ONS also show that, for the second time since March, there were fewer than 100 deaths in a week in the UK mentioning Covid-19 on the death certificate.
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.
On Friday, the government raised its estimate for the R number across the whole of the UK to between 1.1 and 1.4.On Friday, the government raised its estimate for the R number across the whole of the UK to between 1.1 and 1.4.
The estimate for England is 1.2-1.4, while for Scotland it is 1.1-1.4. The estimate for Wales is 0.7-1.0 and in Northern Ireland it is 1.2. The estimate for England is 1.2-1.4, while for Scotland it is 1.1-1.6. The estimate for Wales is 0.7-1.2 and in Northern Ireland it is 1.2.
The government has said in the past that the R number is one of the most important factors in making policy decisions.The government has said in the past that the R number is one of the most important factors in making policy decisions.