Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights 09.03.2023
​
The latest data and trends about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from the Office for National Statistics and other sources.
COVID-19 infections continued to increase in England and Wales
COVID-19 infections continued to increase in England and Wales, decreased in Northern Ireland, and the trend was uncertain in Scotland in the week ending 21 February 2023.
The estimated percentage of people living in private households (those not in care homes or other communal establishments)
testing positive for COVID-19 was:
-
2.31% in England (1 in 45 people)
-
2.21% in Wales (1 in 45 people)
-
1.14% in Northern Ireland (1 in 90 people)
-
2.22% in Scotland (1 in 45 people)
In England, the infection rate increased in most regions but trends varied across age groups in the week ending 21 February 2023.
The overall hospital admission rate of patients with confirmed COVID-19 in England decreased to 8.62 per 100,000 people in the latest week (ending 26 February 2023). In the same week, the intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) admission rate remained similar at 0.25 per 100,000 people.
In the UK, there were 474 deaths involving COVID-19 registered in the week ending 24 February 2023. This is a decrease from 476 in the previous week. Deaths involving COVID-19 accounted for 3.5% of all deaths in the UK in the latest week, which is similar to the previous week.
In England, there were 399 deaths involving COVID-19 registered in the week ending 24 February 2023, similar to the 401 in the previous week.
Overview of the pandemic
Since COVID-19 reached the UK in early 2020, more than 500 million tests have been reported, more than 9 in every 10 people aged 12 years and over have received at least two vaccinations, and more than 150,000 people have died. 
The ONS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, run independently of government testing, has conducted tests on hundreds of thousands of weekly samples to provide the best estimate of the scale of the pandemic, with a peak of 1 in 13 people infected in England in March 2022.  
How infections, hospitalizations and deaths have changed during the pandemic
Estimated coronavirus (COVID-19) positivity rates, overall hospital admissions, intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) admissions, and number of deaths, England, 1 August 2020 to 26 February 2023
Vaccines have effectively reduced the impact of infections on hospitalizations and deaths, but emerging variants have been much more transmissible. The hospital admission rate and number of deaths involving COVID-19 are lower now than earlier in the pandemic, despite similar, or higher, infection levels.
We are continuing to learn more about the impact of long COVID, which was affecting 2.0 million people (1 in 33) across the UK in January 2023.  
​
COVID-19
​
Guidance
​
Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19
Guidance for living safely with respiratory infections, including coronavirus (COVID-19).
​
From: UK Health Security Agency
Published: 1 April 2022
Last updated: 16 June 2022 — See all updates
​
​​​​​​
Applies to England
​
Contents
​
1. Get vaccinated
2. Let fresh air in
3. Remember the basics of good hygiene
4. When to consider wearing a face covering or a face masks
​
​
As we learn to live safely with coronavirus (COVID-19), there are actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching COVID-19 and passing it on to others. These actions will also help to reduce the spread of other respiratory infections, such as flu, which can spread easily and may cause serious illness in some people.
​
COVID-19, along with many other respiratory infections such as influenza (flu), can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. You may be infected with a respiratory virus such as COVID-19 and not have any symptoms but still pass infection onto others.
​
The risk of catching or passing on COVID-19 is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed and/or poorly ventilated space with, other people. When someone with a respiratory viral infection such as COVID-19 breathes, speaks, coughs or sneezes, they release small particles that contain the virus which causes the infection. These particles can be breathed in or can come into contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth. The particles can also land on surfaces and be passed from person to person via touch.
​
You will not always know whether someone you come into contact with is at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from respiratory infections, including COVID-19. They could be strangers (for example people you sit next to on public transport) or people you may have regular contact with (for example friends and work colleagues).
​
There are simple things you can do in your daily life that will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections and protect those at highest risk. Things you can choose to do are:
-
Get vaccinated.
-
Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors.
-
Practise good hygiene:
-
wash your hands
-
cover your coughs and sneezes
-
clean your surroundings frequently
-
Wear a face covering or a face mask.
Face coverings and face masks can help reduce the chance of you spreading infection to others, especially in crowded and enclosed spaces, and may protect you from becoming infected by some respiratory viruses.
​
If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as COVID-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you are advised to try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
​
There is guidance on steps you can take to protect other people if you are unwell with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19.
​
1. Get vaccinated
​
Vaccines are the best defence we have against COVID-19 and other respiratory infections such as flu. They provide good protection against hospitalisation and death. They also reduce the risk of long-term symptoms. The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and vaccine programmes are continuously monitored. If you are eligible and you have not yet received your full course of a COVID-19 vaccine, you should get vaccinated. A full course of a COVID-19 vaccine provides protection against severe disease, including against the Omicron variant, but this protection wears off over time. Booster doses significantly improve the protection offered by vaccines. You should get a booster vaccine for COVID-19 if you are offered one.
​
You may be eligible for other vaccinations, particularly if you are at risk of becoming seriously ill. Get vaccinated as soon as you are able to.
There is more information about the vaccinations available and when you should have them on the NHS website.
​
2. Let fresh air in
​
The amount of respiratory virus in the air can build up in poorly ventilated areas. This increases the risk of spreading COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, especially if there are lots of infected people present. The virus can also remain in the air after an infected person has left.
Meeting outdoors greatly reduces this risk, but this may not always be possible.
​
Bringing fresh air into a room by opening a door or a window, even for a few minutes at a time, helps remove older stale air that could contain virus particles and reduces the chance of spreading infections. Trickle vents (small vents usually on the top of a window) or grilles can also be useful for bringing a little fresh air constantly. The more fresh air that is brought inside, the quicker any viruses will be removed from the room.
Ventilation is most important if someone in your household has COVID-19 or another respiratory virus, to try and stop the virus spreading. See further guidance here.
​
Good ventilation has also been linked to health benefits such as better sleep and fewer sick days off from work or school.
​
There is further advice on what you can do to improve ventilation.
​
3. Remember the basics of good hygiene
​
Following these basic rules of good hygiene will help to protect you and others from COVID-19 as well as many other common infections:
-
cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze
-
wash your hands
-
clean your surroundings
GermDefence is a useful website that can help you identify ways to protect yourself and others in your household from COVID-19. It provides scientifically proven advice on reducing the risks from COVID-19 and other viruses in your home.
​
Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze
​
Coughing and sneezing increases the number of particles released by a person, the distance the particles travel and the time they stay in the air. If an infected person coughs or sneezes without covering their nose and mouth, it will significantly increase the risk of infecting others around them. By covering your nose and mouth, you will reduce the spread of particles carrying the virus.
​
Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. Put used tissues in a bin and immediately wash your hands or use hand sanitiser. If you do not have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand.
​
Wash or sanitise your hands
​
Hands touch many surfaces and can become contaminated with viruses and other germs. Once contaminated, hands can transfer these to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the germs can enter your body and infect you.
​
Washing or sanitising your hands removes viruses and other germs, so you are less likely to become infected if you touch your face. Using soap and water is the most effective way to clean your hands, especially if they are visibly dirty. Hand sanitiser can be used when soap and water are not available. You should do this regularly throughout the day.
​
In addition, wash your hands:
​
-
after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose
-
before you eat or handle food
-
after coming into contact with surfaces touched by many others, such as handrails, and shared areas such as kitchens and bathrooms
-
when returning home
Clean your surroundings
Surfaces and belongings can be contaminated with COVID-19 and other germs when people who are infected touch them or cough, talk or breathe over them. Cleaning surfaces will reduce the risk of you catching or spreading infections.
​
Clean surfaces in your home often. Pay particular attention to surfaces that are touched frequently, such as handles, light switches, work surfaces and electronic devices such as remote controls.
​
4. When to consider wearing a face covering or a face mask
​
Wearing a face covering or face mask can reduce the number of particles containing viruses that are released from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. Face coverings can also protect the person wearing the face covering from becoming infected by some viruses.
​
When to wear a face covering
​
-
when you are coming into close contact with someone at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from COVID-19 or other respiratory infections
-
when COVID-19 rates are high and you will be in close contact with other people, such as in crowded and enclosed spaces
-
when there are a lot of respiratory viruses circulating, such as in winter, and you will be in close contact with other people in crowded and enclosed spaces
If you have symptoms or have a positive COVID-19 test result and you need to leave your home, wearing a well-fitting face covering or a face mask can help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. See further advice in the guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive test result.
​
Those attending education or childcare settings will not normally be expected to wear a face covering. Face coverings for children under the age of 3 are not recommended for safety reasons.
​
What makes a good face covering
​
Face coverings work best if they are made with multiple layers (at least 2 and preferably 3) and form a good fit around the nose and mouth. A wire nose bridge can improve the fit and may also help to prevent glasses from fogging. Scarves, bandanas or religious garments are likely to be less effective if they do not fit securely around the mouth and nose, and are of a single layer.
​
Reusable face coverings should be able to be washed with other items of laundry according to fabric washing instructions and dried without causing the face covering to be damaged. Single-use disposable masks should not be washed or reused and should be disposed of responsibly.
