Latest COVID-19 headlines
- Lower COVID-19 death rates among those who had booster jab
- Continued decrease in people testing positive for COVID-19
- Most clinically extremely vulnerable taking COVID-19 precautions
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Lower COVID-19 death rates among those who had booster jab
16 May 2022
Monthly age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) for deaths involving COVID-19 have been consistently lower for people who had a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine than for unvaccinated people.
The ASMRs were significantly lower than those for unvaccinated people, or those who had received a first or second dose of the vaccine, in all months since booster introduction in September 2021.
Those over 50 years who had received a booster at least 21 days ago had lower ASMRs in all months, compared with unvaccinated people. This has also been the case among younger age groups where rates can be calculated, although trends are now less clear due to lower mortality rates with larger confidence intervals.
Changes in non-COVID-19 mortality by vaccination status are largely driven by the changing composition of the vaccination status groups; this could be because of the prioritisation of clinically extremely vulnerable and people with underlying health conditions, and differences in timing of vaccination among people who were eligible.
Monthly age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) for deaths involving COVID-19 are consistently lower for people who had a third dose or booster at least 21 days ago than for unvaccinated people
ASMRs calculated for each month, by vaccine status, total and by age group, for deaths involving COVID-19, England, deaths occurring between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2022
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Continued decrease in percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19
13 May 2022
The percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) has continued to decrease in all UK countries in the week ending 7 May 2022.
- In England, an estimated 1,204,100 people tested positive for the virus, equating to 2.21% of the population or around 1 in 45 people.
- In Wales, an estimated 88,300 people tested positive for the virus, equating to 2.91% of the population or around 1 in 35 people.
- In Northern Ireland, an estimated 33,800 people tested positive for the virus, equating to 1.84% of the population or around 1 in 55 people.
- In Scotland, an estimated 158,200 people tested positive for the virus, equating to 3.01% of the population or around 1 in 35 people.
The percentage testing positive for COVID-19 continued to decrease across the UK
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for COVID-19 on nose and throat swabs, UK, 1 May 2021 to 7 May 2022
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Most clinically extremely vulnerable people taking COVID-19 precautions
13 May 2022
Most people previously considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable (referred to throughout as “CEV people”) to coronavirus (COVID-19) were continuing to take precautions to protect themselves.
Of CEV people in England, 13% reported continuing to follow previous shielding advice and 69% were no longer shielding but were taking extra precautions. The majority of CEV people (78%) felt that it should be the law for those who test positive to self-isolate and 59% felt that it should be the law to wear face masks in public spaces.
| Percentage who agreed with the following statements: | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| It should be the law to self-isolate for those who test positive | 78 | |
| It should be the law to wear face masks in public spaces | 59 | |
| Those who have symptoms should continue to test | 95 | |
| Reducing the recommended self-isolation period from 10 to 5 days was the correct decision | 46 | |
| The removal of mandatory testing for international arrivals increases the risk of new variants entering the UK | 87 | |
Download this table Opinions of people previously considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable
.xls .csvThe percentage who were very or somewhat worried about the effect coronavirus is having on their life right now was statistically significantly higher (46%) than the general adult population of England (34%).
Meanwhile, more than half (59%) of respondents reported that the pandemic had a negative effect on them; whilst 11% reported a positive effect and 30% reported no effect. Additionally, a statistically significantly higher proportion of CEV people reported feeling lonely often or always, compared with the general adult population of England (10% and 6%, respectively).
Black Caribbean ethnic group least likely to have had three vaccine doses
13 May 2022
The Black Caribbean ethnic group were the least likely to have had three coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination doses.
The proportion of people aged 18 years and over who received three vaccinations was highest for those identifying as White British (76%). The lowest proportion of people was in Black Caribbean (38%), Black African (45%) and Pakistani (45%) ethnic groups.
The proportion of people who received three vaccinations was lowest for the Black Caribbean ethnic group
Age-standardised proportion of people aged 18 years and over who had received three vaccinations, by ethnic group, England, March 2022
Source: Source: Office for National Statistics - National Immunisation Management Service, NHS Digital GP Extraction Service Data for Pandemic Planning and Research
Download this chart The proportion of people who received three vaccinations was lowest for the Black Caribbean ethnic group
Image .csv .xlsThe proportion of adults who received three vaccinations was also lower for those living in more deprived areas, urban areas, or social rented housing; those who were not born in the UK or did not have English as a main language; those who have never worked or are long-term unemployed; those who are limited a lot by a disability; those who identify as Muslim or are male
Over a third of adults experiencing high levels of anxiety
13 May 2022
Just over a third of adults (34%) reported experiencing high levels of anxiety in the period from 27 April to 8 May 2022. The figure was slightly higher among younger adults:
- 42% among those aged 16 to 29 years
- 34% among those aged 30 to 49 years
- 31% among those aged 50 to 69 years
- 30% among those aged 70 years
A slightly higher proportion of women (37%) reported experiencing high levels of anxiety than men (31%).
More than 1 in 20 (6%) of adults reported feeling lonely always or often in the latest surveying period. The figure increases to around a quarter of adults (25%) when those who feel lonely just some of the time are also included.
Around 4 in 10 (43%) adults reported they were very or somewhat worried about the effect of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on their lives. This figure was 39% in the previous period.
Levels of personal well-being remained relatively stable
Adults in Great Britain, March 2020 to May 2022
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UK flights remain below pre-pandemic levels
12 May 2022
The number of UK daily flights this week was at 85% of the level seen in the equivalent week of 2019.
UK daily flights, total ship visits, and cargo and tanker visits increased by 6%, 7% and 5%, respectively this week in comparison with the previous week, according to data from EUROCONTROL and exactEarth. Meanwhile, the volume of all motor vehicle traffic on 9 May 2022 remained broadly similar to a fortnight ago, at 100% of the level seen on the Monday of the first week in February 2022, according to the Department for Transport.
The seven-day average number of UK daily flights was 5,184 in the week to 8 May 2022, an 828% increase compared with the equivalent week of 2020
Number of daily flights, non-seasonally adjusted, seven-day moving average, 2 January 2019 to 8 May 2022, UK
Download this chart The seven-day average number of UK daily flights was 5,184 in the week to 8 May 2022, an 828% increase compared with the equivalent week of 2020
Image .csv .xlsCar, light commercial vehicle and heavy goods vehicle traffic volumes remained broadly similar to two weeks ago, at 95%, 114% and 109% of the level seen on the Monday of the first week in February 2020, respectively. Vehicle traffic volumes are compared with two weeks ago because of last week’s bank holiday, which caused atypical traffic volumes.
Risk of re-infection higher when Omicron variant was most common
11 May 2022
The risk of becoming re-infected with coronavirus (COVID-19) is still higher when Omicron variants were most common, compared with when the Delta variant was most common.
In recent months, when Omicron variants were most common (December 2021 to April 2022), the risk of those who previously had COVID-19 becoming re-infected was approximately 10 times higher than between May and December 2021, when the Delta variant was most common.
The percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 who reported loss of taste or smell has also remained lower in April 2022, after decreasing sharply when the Omicron variants became most common between December 2021 and January 2022.
In the fortnight ending 23 April 2022 other characteristics associated with a reduced chance of testing positive for COVID-19 included:
- people who had been recently vaccinated were generally less likely to test positive than those who were unvaccinated
- people who had been previously infected with COVID-19 were less likely to test positive than those who had not been infected before
- females were less likely to test positive than males
- people from ethnic minority groups were less likely to test positive than those of White ethnicity
- people who live in more deprived areas were less likely to test positive than those living in less deprived areas
- people who had contact with hospitals, or live with someone who had, were less likely to test positive than those living in households where no-one had contact with hospitals
Half of COVID-19 cases followed self-isolation guidance
10 May 2022
Around half (51%) of people in England who tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on 22 or 25 March 2022 fully complied with self-isolation guidance.
This is statistically significantly lower than in early March 2022 (64%) and February 2022 (80%).
Of those who did not fully follow the guidance, more than 9 in 10 (93%) reported leaving the house for a non-compliant reason, most commonly for outdoor recreation or exercise (37%).
New guidance for those who test positive, or experience symptoms of COVID-19 or any respiratory infections, was released on 1 April 2022, during the survey period.
This now advises them to stay home and avoid contact with others for five days from the day they took a test, and until they no longer have symptoms. It also advises wearing face coverings and avoiding crowded places if leaving the home.
The proportion of respondents who left the house and reported wearing a mask on every occasion (44%) is statistically significantly lower than levels reported in February 2022 (66%) and January 2022 (75%).
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