Latest COVID-19 headlines
- COVID-19 mortality rate rose across England and Wales in July
- Infections down in England and Scotland but up in Wales
- Most would likely accept a booster COVID-19 vaccine
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COVID-19 mortality rate rose across England and Wales in July
23 August 2021
Considering age and population, the mortality rate for coronavirus (COVID-19) rose in England between June and July 2021.
Last month the age-standardised mortality rate (ASMR) for deaths due to COVID-19 in England was statistically significantly higher (20.5 deaths per 100,000 people) than June 2021 (7.5 deaths per 100,000 people).
The ASMR for deaths due to COVID-19 also rose in Wales to 11.6 deaths per 100,000 people. In June 2021 the number of deaths in Wales due to COVID-19 was too low to calculate a reliable ASMR and so it is not possible to form a reliable comparison.
Mortality rates due to COVID-19 in England in July 2021 significantly increased compared with June 2021
Age-standardised mortality rates for deaths due to COVID-19, per 100,000 people, England and Wales, deaths registered in March 2020 to July 2021
Source: Office for National Statistics – Monthly mortality analysis
Download this chart Mortality rates due to COVID-19 in England in July 2021 significantly increased compared with June 2021
Image .csv .xlsIn July 2021 there were 40,467 deaths registered in England (7.6% more than the July five-year average from 2015 to 2019) and 2,738 in Wales (10.4% above the five-year average).
Coronavirus was the ninth leading cause of death in England in July 2021, accounting for 2.4% of all deaths registered, and the 22nd leading cause of death in Wales (1.2% of all deaths).
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was the leading cause of death in both countries in July 2021.
Infections continued to be high in England and Northern Ireland
20 August 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) infections have decreased in England and Scotland but have increased in Wales in the latest week, ending 14 August 2021. The trend was uncertain in Northern Ireland in the same week.
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% (1 in 80 people) in England
- 0.77% (1 in 130 people) in Wales
- 1.92% (1 in 50 people) in Northern Ireland
- 0.49% (1 in 200 people) in Scotland
Across England, infections decreased for those in school Years 7 to 11 and those aged 25 to 34 years and 70 years and over. The positivity rate increased in those aged 35 to 49 years and the trend was uncertain for all other age groups.
Infections have also decreased in the West Midlands, East Midlands and North East of England in the most recent week. The positivity rate increased in the East of England and levelled off in the South East and London. Trends were uncertain in all other regions.
The percentage of people testing positive decreased in the West Midlands, East Midlands and North East
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) on nose and throat swabs, daily, by region from 4 July to 14 August 2021, England
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Data for percentage testing positive by region (XLSX, 71 KB)
Most would likely accept a booster COVID-19 vaccine
20 August 2021
Almost 9 in 10 (87%) people would be likely or very likely to have a booster coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine if offered. Younger groups are less likely to accept a vaccine (78% aged 16 to 29 years) than older groups (96% aged 70 years and over).
The percentage of adults who always or often maintain social distancing (46%) fell slightly this week (49% last week). However, the proportion of adults reporting to wear face coverings when outside their home (89%) was similar to last week (90%).
The proportion meeting up indoors with others outside their household (69%) increased compared with the previous week (64%), as did meeting up outdoors (67% this week, 60% previous week).
In the latest week, 3% of adults said they were self-isolating, a slight decrease from 4% the previous week.
Being in contact with someone who had tested positive for COVID-19 was the most common reason for self-isolation (37%), followed by being notified by the NHS app (26%) and testing positive for COVID-19 (25%).
COVID-19 antibodies continue to rise along with vaccinations
19 August 2021
An estimated 94.2% of the adult population of England, 93.2% in Wales, 89.1% in Northern Ireland and 93.5% in Scotland would have tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies in the week beginning 26 July 2021.
The presence of antibodies suggests a person previously had COVID-19 or has been vaccinated.
Estimates suggest an increase in the percentage of adults across the UK who reported they had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, from 90.1% to 92.1% of adults across the UK.
The estimated percentage of adults who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 continued to increase, ranging across the UK, from 74.8% in Northern Ireland to 80.7% in England in the week beginning 26 July 2021.
Across the four UK countries, the estimated percentage of adults aged 25 to 34 years who have received one or more doses of a COVID-19 vaccine ranged from 82.3% to 90.1% – this has increased sharply since the end of May. A similar increase can be seen for those aged 16 to 24 years across the UK since June, with between 51.3% and 56.6% reporting having had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine in the week beginning 26 July 2021.
The percentage of adults testing positive for antibodies varies by age group between the four nations of the UK. This could be explained by different historical trends in COVID-19 infection rates and the approaches to vaccine distribution in different nations.
The percentage of adults testing positive for COVID-19 antibodies is increasing among younger age groups across the UK
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 1 August 2021
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Data for antibodies and vaccination by age group (XLSX, 150KB)
Online job adverts remained higher than their February 2020 average
19 August 2021
The total volume of UK online job adverts on 13 August 2021 was 128% higher than their February 2020 average, similar to 6 August 2021.
According to data from Adzuna, the “transport/logistics/warehouse” job advert category remains the category with the highest level of job adverts relative to its pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic level, at 335% of its February 2020 average.
The total volume of online job adverts on 13 August 2021 was broadly similar to the previous week at 128% of its February 2020 average level
Volume of online job adverts by category, index: 100 = February 2020 average, 4 January 2019 to 13 August 2021, non-seasonally adjusted
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Data for online job adverts (XLSX, 27KB)
Notes:
- Users should note that week-on-week changes in online job advert volumes are outlined as percentages, rather than as percentage point changes. Percentage change figures quoted in the commentary will therefore not necessarily match the percentage point changes observed in the charts and accompanying dataset.
On 13 August 2021, 14 out of 28 job advert categories saw a weekly decrease, seven were unchanged and the remaining seven increased when compared with the previous week. The largest weekly decrease in online job adverts was in the “charity/voluntary” and “education” categories, which both fell by 7%. The largest weekly increase was “domestic help”, which rose by 4%.
The categories that remain the furthest level below their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels are “legal” and “energy/oil and gas”, which are 73% and 82% of their February 2020 average level, respectively. In total, there are only six categories that remain below pre-coronavirus pandemic levels.
UK COVID-19 deaths continue to rise
17 August 2021
The number of deaths from all causes in the UK in the week ending 6 August 2021 was 11,589, 12.4% 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, 609 deaths were registered involving coronavirus (COVID-19), accounting for around 1 in 19 deaths (5.3%). This is a 30.1% increase on the previous week.
The number of deaths from COVID-19 increased in all UK nations compared with the previous week. UK total deaths include non-residents.
Deaths involving COVID-19 increased in the UK in the week to 6 August
Number of deaths registered by week, UK, week ending 8 January 2021 to week ending 6 August 2021
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Data for deaths involving COVID-19 in the UK (XLSX, 19KB)
Using the most up-to-date data, the total number of deaths involving COVID-19 in England and Wales is 142,499 (registrations up to 6 August 2021). Between 13 March 2020 and 6 August 2021, there have been 107,177 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.
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