Latest COVID-19 headlines
- 1 in 68 people in the UK experiencing self-reported “long COVID”
- Average UK daily flights up 117% since May 2021
- 9 out of 10 adults tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies
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1 in 68 people in the UK experiencing self-reported “long COVID”
5 August 2021
An estimated 945,000 people living in private UK households (1.46% of the population) were experiencing self-reported “long COVID” symptoms as of 4 July 2021.
The number of people with symptoms persisting more than four weeks after their first suspected COVID-19 infection (if not explained by something else) was down slightly from 962,000 (1.49%) at 6 June 2021.
Of those experiencing self-reported “long COVID”, 380,000 (40.2%) first had (or suspected they had) COVID-19 at least a year previously.
As a proportion of the UK population, prevalence of self-reported long COVID was greatest in people aged 35 to 69 years, females, people living in the most deprived areas, those working in health or social care, and those with another activity-limiting health condition or disability.
Average UK daily flights up 117% since May 2021
5 August 2021
The number of UK daily flights has reached the highest level seen since the week to 22 March 2020 (the day before the first national lockdown was implemented across the UK).
Data from EUROCONTROL on international and domestic UK flights show the seven-day average of daily flights arriving and departing the UK rose by 17% in the week to 25 July 2021 from the previous week, to 2,877 daily flights.
The seven-day average number of UK daily flights has increased by 117% from the week ending 23 May 2021, the week that international travel could restart
Number of daily flights, non-seasonally adjusted, and seven-day moving average, 2 January 2019 to 1 August 2021, UK
Source: European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL)
Notes:
- The fall in February 2020 coincides with Storm Ciara.
- The falls in December and January coincide with Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
Download this chart The seven-day average number of UK daily flights has increased by 117% from the week ending 23 May 2021, the week that international travel could restart
Image .csv .xlsThe seven-day average number of UK daily flights in the latest week to 1 August 2021 was at 45% of the level seen in the equivalent week in 2019, and 134% of the level seen in the equivalent week of 2020 (when UK travel corridors were in place).
9 out of 10 adults tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies
4 August 2021
Across all four countries of the UK, 9 out of 10 adults would have tested positive for antibodies against SARS-Cov-2 in the week beginning 12 July 2021.
There is a clear pattern between vaccination and testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) antibodies. In England, an estimated 93.6% of the adult population tested positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the week beginning 12 July 2021, suggesting they had the infection in the past or have been vaccinated. In Wales, the estimated percentage was 93.2%, in Northern Ireland 90.7%, and in Scotland 92.5%. We provide 95% credible intervals in the main bulletin to indicate the uncertainty of each estimate.
The percentage of adults testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies and the percentage of adults who reported being vaccinated in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland continued to increase
Modelled percentage of adults: who tested positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, who have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, and who were fully vaccinated, UK countries, 7 December 2020 to 18 July 2021
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UK COVID-19 deaths continue to rise
3 August 2021
The number of deaths from all causes in the UK in the week ending 23 July 2021 was 11,160, 7.8% above the average for the corresponding week in 2015 to 2019.
Deaths were above the five-year average in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Of these, 392 deaths were registered involving coronavirus (COVID-19), accounting for around 1 in 29 deaths (3.5%). This is a 46.3% increase on the previous week.
The number of deaths from COVID-19 increased in all four UK countries compared with the previous week. Deaths include non-residents.
Deaths involving COVID-19 increased in the UK in the week to 23 July
Number of deaths registered by week, UK, week ending 8 January 2021 to week ending 23 July 2021
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Data for deaths involving COVID-19 in the week to 23 July (XLSX, 19KB)
Using the most up-to-date data, the total number of deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales is 141,512 (registrations up to 23 July 2021). Between 13 March 2020 and 23 July 2021, there have been 104,841 excess deaths above the five-year average.
Our data are based on deaths registered in England and Wales and include all deaths where “novel coronavirus (COVID-19)” was mentioned on the death certificate. Weekly figures are available by local authority and health board.
How excess deaths have changed each month where you live
3 August 2021
Deaths registered by MSOA each month, March 2020 to April 2021, compared with the average for the same month between 2015 and 2019, England and Wales
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Data for deaths registered monthly by MSOA, March 2020 to April 2021 (XLSX, 4MB)
Use your postcode to see the number of excess deaths each month in your neighbourhood.
There are 7,201 neighbourhoods (officially known as Middle-layer Super Output Areas or MSOAs) of England and Wales with an average population of around 8,000. Some neighbourhoods saw more than twice as many residents die than would have been expected for the time of year during the spring and summer of 2020, while excess deaths were spread out over a longer period in the following autumn and winter.
Deaths between March 2020 and April 2021 are compared with the average for the same month between 2015 and 2019.
Infections continued to increase in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
30 July 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continued to increase in England and have increased in Wales and Northern Ireland in the week ending 24 July 2021, but decreased in Scotland.
The estimated percentage of the community population (those not in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings) that had COVID-19 was:
- 1.57% (1 in 65 people) in England, up from 1.36% (1 in 75 people) last week
- 0.62% (1 in 160 people) in Wales, up from 0.47% (1 in 210 people) last week
- 1.48% (1 in 65 people) in Northern Ireland, up from 0.59% (1 in 170 people) last week
- 0.94% (1 in 110 people) in Scotland, down from 1.24% (1 in 80 people) last week
Across England, positivity rates increased in the most recent week for those aged two years to school Year 11 and those aged 50 years and over, while the trend is uncertain for all other age groups.
Infections have also continued to increase in most English regions in the latest week, except for the East of England and South West, where the trend is uncertain.
While our findings for England may seem to contradict recent daily test and trace figures, it’s important to understand that the ONS survey tests a large randomised sample of the population regardless of whether they have symptoms. This and other factors may lie behind the apparent discrepancies.
The percentage of people testing positive has continued to increase in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and decreased in Scotland
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on nose and throat swabs from 27 April 2020 to 24 July 2021
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Data for percentage testing positive by nation (XLSX, 54 KB)
Almost 1 in 10 young adults self-isolated this week
30 July 2021
Almost 1 in 10 (9%) 16- to 29-year-olds said they had self-isolated in the past seven days. Young adults were three times more likely to be self-isolating than those aged 70 years and over (3%). Overall, 6% of adults said they were self-isolating, similar to the 7% last week.
In the past seven days, 6% of adults said they had self-isolated
Adults in Great Britain, May to July 2021
Source: Office for National Statistics – Opinions and Lifestyle Survey
Download this chart In the past seven days, 6% of adults said they had self-isolated
Image .csv .xlsOver 9 in 10 (95%) adults said they had worn a face covering outside their home in the last seven days, the same figure as the week before. This is despite the further easing of legal restrictions in England on 19 July 2021.
Those saying they always or often maintained social distance fell slightly from 63% last week to 61%.
Most adults felt that measures such as wearing a face covering while shopping (90%) and social distancing (88%) were either very important or important. These figures are unchanged from last week.
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We continue to respond to data requests from the public, media and government during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Responses are published in our list of user requested data.