Latest COVID-19 headlines
- Infection trends varied across UK nations
- Antibodies rising sharply among 16 to 24 year olds
- “Long COVID” symptoms tracked in fewer than 1 in 30 of infected
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Infection trends varied across UK nations
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections remained high in England in the week ending 11 September 2021, but the trend is uncertain.
In Scotland in the week ending 11 September 2021, estimated infections increased, although the rate of growth slowed from previous weeks.
Infections also increased in Wales, while Northern Ireland recorded a decrease.
The estimated percentage of the community population (those not in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings) that had COVID-19 in the latest week was:
1.28% in England (1 in 80 people), compared with 1.38% (1 in 70 people) the week before
1.62% in Wales (1 in 60 people), compared with 1.54% (1 in 65 people) the week before
1.36% in Northern Ireland (1 in 75 people), down from 1.74% (1 in 60 people) the week before
2.29% in Scotland (1 in 45 people), compared with 2.23% (1 in 45 people) the week before
Infection trends varied across the four UK nations
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on nose and throat swabs, UK, 27 April 2020 to 11 September 2021
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The percentage of people testing positive continued to fluctuate across age groups and regions in the latest week (week ending 11 September 2021).
The positivity rate increased in secondary school-age children (school Years 7 to 11) and in groups aged 50 years and over, but trends were uncertain in all other age groups.
Among regions, the positivity rate increased in the North West and decreased in the West Midlands and East of England. Trends were uncertain elsewhere.
Antibodies rising sharply among 16 to 24 year olds
16 September 2021
The percentage of young adults testing positive for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the specific virus that causes coronavirus (COVID-19), is rising steadily across all UK nations.
Coronavirus Infection Survey data show the estimated percentage of adults aged 25 to 34 years who have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine ranged from 86.9% to 91.4% - this has increased sharply since the end of May.
The percentage of 16 to 24 year olds testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies continues to rise
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, by grouped age, UK countries, 7 December 2020 to 13 August 2021.
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Download the data for antibodies and vaccination by age group (XLSX, 158KB)
A similar increase can be seen for those aged 16 to 24 years since June, with between 70.8% and 78.8% reporting having had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine across the UK in the week beginning 23 August 2021.
In each UK nation, it is estimated over 9 in 10 adults would have tested positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the week beginning 23 August 2021, suggesting they had the infection in the past or have been vaccinated.
“Long COVID” symptoms tracked in fewer than 1 in 30 of infected
16 September 2021
Experimental estimates of the prevalence of post-acute symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) - commonly referred to as “long COVID” - range from 3.0% to 11.7% of those previously infected, depending on the approach used.
Among Coronavirus Infection Survey participants with COVID-19, 3.0% experienced any of 12 common symptoms continuously for a period of at least 12 weeks from infection, compared with 0.5% in a control group without a positive test for COVID-19.
Fewer than 1 in 30 experienced one of 12 “long-COVID” symptoms for 12 weeks after infection
Estimated percentage of study participants reporting any of 12 symptoms with time from infection (participants with COVID-19) or time from equivalent date (control participants), UK: 26 April 2020 to 1 August 2021
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These estimates are substantially lower than experimental statistics published in April using a similar approach because of a longer follow up and updated methodology.
An estimated 11.7% of study participants with COVID-19 would describe themselves as experiencing long COVID 12 weeks after infection based on self-classification rather than reporting one of the 12 common symptoms.
Irrespective of the approach used, “Long COVID” prevalence was highest in women, adults aged 50 to 69 years, people with a pre-existing health condition, and those with signs of a high viral load at the time of infection.
Over 20,000 company dissolution first gazettes in week to 7 September
16 September 2021
There were 20,503 compulsory dissolution first gazettes in the week to 7 September 2021.
This new weekly indicator in collaboration with Companies House shows the number of company compulsory dissolution first gazettes issued in the UK.
There were 20,503 company compulsory dissolution first gazettes issued in the UK in the week ending 7 September 2021
Number of annual cumulative weekly company compulsory dissolution first gazettes, UK, week ending 2 January 2018 to week ending 7 September 2021, non-seasonally adjusted
Source: Companies House
Notes:
- Companies House publish weekly compulsory dissolution first gazette figures on Tuesdays, covering the period Wednesday to Tuesday. Week 36 of 2021 therefore covers the week ending 7 September 2021.
- More methodological information on company incorporations, voluntary dissolution applications, and compulsory dissolution first gazettes can be found in the Companies House methodology document.
Download this chart There were 20,503 company compulsory dissolution first gazettes issued in the UK in the week ending 7 September 2021
Image .csv .xlsCompulsory dissolution first gazette statistics help show a fuller picture of business in the UK by providing an indicator of potential company closure in addition to voluntary dissolution applications which can be found in the accompanying dataset.
Companies House paused the issuing of compulsory dissolution first gazettes between 16 March and 10 October 2020, and between 21 January and 8 March 2021. This means that the cumulative total since the start of the year is now 343,787. This cumulative annual figure is 30% and 26% higher than the pre-pandemic years of 2018 and 2019, respectively.
UK COVID-19 deaths rise to highest since March
14 September 2021
The number of deaths from all causes in the UK in the week ending 3 September 2021 was 10,307, 8.7% 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, 781 deaths were registered involving coronavirus (COVID-19), accounting for around 1 in 13 deaths (7.6%). As a percentage of deaths from all causes, deaths from COVID-19 were the highest since the week ending 19 March 2021.
The number of death registrations in the latest week were affected by the Summer Bank Holiday. Comparisons with the previous week and the five-year average should be treated with caution.
UK total deaths include non-residents.
Deaths involving COVID-19 increased for the 12th consecutive week
Number of deaths registered by week, UK, week ending 8 January 2021 to week ending 3 September 2021
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Data for weekly deaths involving COVID-19 (XLSX, 16KB)
Using the most up-to-date data, the total number of deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales is 145,066 (registrations up to 3 September 2021). Between 13 March 2020 and 3 September 2021, there have been 111,151 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.
Mortality rate lowest among double vaccinated
13 September 2021
Weekly age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) for deaths involving coronavirus (COVID-19) are lower for those who have received two vaccine doses than those who have received one dose or are unvaccinated.
ASMRs account for differences in population size and age of the vaccination status groups over time.
In people who received their second dose at least 21 days before their date of death, 0.8% of all deaths involved COVID-19. Over one-third (37.4%) of all deaths in unvaccinated people involved COVID-19.
A death involving COVID-19 occurring in someone who has received both vaccine doses, and had a first positive PCR test at least 14 days after the second vaccination dose, is known as a “breakthrough death”. In total, there were 256 breakthrough deaths between 2 January and 2 July 2021.
Deaths involving COVID-19 are consistently lower for people who have received two vaccinations
Weekly age-standardised mortality rates for deaths involving COVID-19 by vaccination status, England, deaths occurring between Week 1 (week ending 8 January 2021) and Week 26 (week ending 2 July 2021).
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Weekly household spending fell by over £100 during the pandemic
13 September 2021
UK households reduced their spending by an average of £109.10, or 19%, a week during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic (the year to March 2021).
During the year to March 2021, households spent less on goods and services that were restricted at various times to control the spread of coronavirus.
Households also may have been able to cut back on spending if they were able to shift to home working. Higher income households, who tended to spend more on travel pre-pandemic, and whose workers were more likely to be able to work from home, saw a larger drop in spending than low income households.
However, for some, the reduction in spending may have been associated with a fall in income. Around a third of workers saw their household income fall in the financial year ending (FYE) 2021, rising to 42% for the 20% on the lowest incomes (who were more likely to be furloughed and less likely to be able to work from home than people on higher incomes).
Working adults on the lowest incomes were most likely to see a fall in household income in the year to March 2021
Economically active adults’ change in household income in FYE 2021 compared with FYE 2020, by income quintile, Great Britain
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Data for change in household income by income quintile (XLSX, 20KB)
While both spending and income fell for many UK households, people are on average finding it easier to make ends meet, with the proportion of people reporting difficulty in making ends meet falling by six percentage points from 34% in the year to March 2020 to 28% in the year ending March 2021.
Infections increase in Scotland and Wales
10 September 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections remained level in England in the week ending 3 September 2021.
In Scotland in the week ending 3 September, estimated infections increased and were the highest we have recorded. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey began to cover Scotland in September 2020.
In Northern Ireland, the trend in infections was uncertain in the week ending 3 September. In Wales, infections increased in the week ending 3 September.
The estimated percentage of the community population (those not in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings) that had COVID-19 in the latest week was:
- 1.38% in England (1 in 70 people), compared with 1.41% in (1 in 70 people) the week before
- 1.54% in Wales (1 in 65 people), compared with 0.92% (1 in 110 people) the week before
- 1.74% in Northern Ireland (1 in 60 people), compared with 1.56% (1 in 65 people) the week before
- 2.23% in Scotland (1 in 45 people), up from with 1.32% (1 in 75 people) the week before
Infection trends varied across the UK
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on nose and throat swabs, UK, 7 August 2020 to 3 September 2021
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Data for estimates of people testing positive by UK country (XLSX, 57KB)
In England, the percentage of people testing positive increased for those aged two years to school Year 11 and those aged 35 to 49 years. The percentage of people testing positive increased for those aged 70 years and over in the two weeks up to 3 September 2021, but the trend was uncertain in the most recent week. The percentage of people testing positive decreased for those aged 25 to 34 and 50 to 69 years.
The highest percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in England was seen in the North East and Yorkshire and The Humber. In the week ending 3 September 2021, the percentage of people testing positive increased in the North East, decreased in the North West, and remained level in London and the South East, while the trend was uncertain in other regions.
One in ten adults report being asked for COVID-19 status
10 September 2021
Around 1 in 10 of all adults (11%) across Great Britain report having been asked to show proof that they have either been vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19), or that they have recently tested negative, to be allowed into a venue or event.
Some large venues such as football stadia and music festivals have already been asking people to prove their COVID-19 status.
The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) for 25 August to 5 September 2021 also asked the 11% of adults who had been asked for proof of vaccination or a negative test where this had happened, with sporting events and festivals the most common places to have requested it.
Sporting events and festivals were the most common places people reported being asked for proof
Percentage of adults who had been asked to prove COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test by venue, Great Britain, 25 August to 5 September 2021
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Download data for percentages of adults asked to prove COVID-19 status by venue (XLSX, 17 KB)
Between 25 August and 5 September 2021, 46% of adults in Great Britain reported always or often maintaining social distancing. This figure is now around half of what it was in mid-February (91%, 10 to 14 February 2021), during the full lockdown.
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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.