This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-62688472
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Covid infections keep falling in August across UK | Covid infections keep falling in August across UK |
| (6 months later) | |
| Covid infection levels have continued to fall across the UK in mid-August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | Covid infection levels have continued to fall across the UK in mid-August, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
| One in 45 people tested positive, with Covid rates lowest in school-age children. | One in 45 people tested positive, with Covid rates lowest in school-age children. |
| The ONS says it will "closely monitor" the numbers as children return to the classroom. | The ONS says it will "closely monitor" the numbers as children return to the classroom. |
| Booster jabs are being offered to the most vulnerable from early September, to help protection during winter. | Booster jabs are being offered to the most vulnerable from early September, to help protection during winter. |
| The ONS estimates, for the week ending 16 August, are based on random tests on people in households across the UK whether or not they have symptoms. | The ONS estimates, for the week ending 16 August, are based on random tests on people in households across the UK whether or not they have symptoms. |
| From these tests, it says 1.4 million people would have tested positive for Covid that week - 2.2% of the population - a drop from 1.7 million the previous week. | From these tests, it says 1.4 million people would have tested positive for Covid that week - 2.2% of the population - a drop from 1.7 million the previous week. |
| There were falls in Covid infections in all UK nations, all English regions and all age groups. | There were falls in Covid infections in all UK nations, all English regions and all age groups. |
| Only among 25-34 year olds was there uncertainty whether Covid was rising or falling. | Only among 25-34 year olds was there uncertainty whether Covid was rising or falling. |
| It follows a rise in infections, caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants of coronavirus, in early July. | It follows a rise in infections, caused by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron variants of coronavirus, in early July. |
| Covid booster rollout to start in early September | Covid booster rollout to start in early September |
| UK first country to approve dual-strain vaccine | UK first country to approve dual-strain vaccine |
| Who will get a Covid booster this autumn? | Who will get a Covid booster this autumn? |
| The number of people dying with Covid or being admitted to hospital with the virus is also falling. | The number of people dying with Covid or being admitted to hospital with the virus is also falling. |
| That has prompted changes to testing rules in England. From the end of August, most hospital patients and care home residents will only be offered tests if they have symptoms. | That has prompted changes to testing rules in England. From the end of August, most hospital patients and care home residents will only be offered tests if they have symptoms. |
| NHS and social care staff in England will also not be offered lateral flow tests unless they fall sick. | NHS and social care staff in England will also not be offered lateral flow tests unless they fall sick. |
| The government said this reflected the fact that cases had fallen and the spread of the virus had reduced. | The government said this reflected the fact that cases had fallen and the spread of the virus had reduced. |
| The advice in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differs - it is currently recommended that NHS staff take regular lateral flow tests even if they do not have symptoms. | The advice in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differs - it is currently recommended that NHS staff take regular lateral flow tests even if they do not have symptoms. |
| A programme to offer Covid booster jabs, along with antiviral treatments, to millions of the most vulnerable from September is expected to help protect those at greatest risk. | A programme to offer Covid booster jabs, along with antiviral treatments, to millions of the most vulnerable from September is expected to help protect those at greatest risk. |
| The UK has recently approved a dual-strain Covid vaccine which will be part of that programme. | The UK has recently approved a dual-strain Covid vaccine which will be part of that programme. |
| Across the UK, the ONS estimates Covid rates were: | Across the UK, the ONS estimates Covid rates were: |
| one in 45 in England - down from one in 40 last week | one in 45 in England - down from one in 40 last week |
| one in 45 in Wales - down from one in 40 last week | one in 45 in Wales - down from one in 40 last week |
| one in 70 in Northern Ireland - down from one in 50 last week | one in 70 in Northern Ireland - down from one in 50 last week |
| one in 40 in Scotland - down from one in 30 last week | one in 40 in Scotland - down from one in 30 last week |
| Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the ONS's Covid-19 infection survey, said: "Infections continue to head in the right direction across all of the UK and are now at levels similar to those last seen in mid-June. | Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the ONS's Covid-19 infection survey, said: "Infections continue to head in the right direction across all of the UK and are now at levels similar to those last seen in mid-June. |
| "Rates remain lowest in school-aged children and we will closely monitor the data to see how the return of schools in September may affect this." | "Rates remain lowest in school-aged children and we will closely monitor the data to see how the return of schools in September may affect this." |
| Related Topics | |
| Office for National Statistics | |
| Coronavirus pandemic |