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Hospital admissions
Overall hospital admissions involving COVID-19 continued to decrease, and ICU and HDU admissions remain very low
Weekly overall COVID-19-positive hospital admission rates and intensive care unit (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) admission rates per 100,000 people, England, weeks ending 9 August 2020 to 8 May 2022
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Overall hospital admissions of COVID-19-confirmed patients decreased to 7.87 per 100,000 people, and ICU and HDU admissions remained very low at 0.30 per 100,000 people in the latest week (ending 8 May 2022).
In the second wave Alpha variant peak in early 2021, the overall hospital admission rate was almost five times higher (36.68 per 100,000 people, week ending 10 January 2021) and the ICU and HDU rate was almost nine times higher (2.61 per 100,000 people, week ending 17 January 2021), despite lower infection levels than in the latest week.
Last updated: 13/05/2022
Read more about this in National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report
Hospital admissions by age
Hospital admissions and deaths were highest among older people
Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for COVID-19 in the week ending 7 May 2022, hospital admission rates in the week ending 8 May 2022, and deaths registered in the week ending 29 April 2022, by age, England
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Infections decreased in all age groups in the latest week (ending 7 May 2022), except for those in School Years 7 to 11, for whom the trend was uncertain. Infections were highest in those aged 50 to 69 years, and lowest for those in School Years 7 to 11.
Hospital admission rates decreased in all age groups in the latest week (ending 8 May 2022) and are now the lowest seen in 2022 for all age groups. The largest decrease was for those aged 85 years and over. However, admission rates remained highest in this group. Admission rates remained lowest in those aged between 5 and 14 years.
The number of deaths involving COVID-19 increased for groups aged 15 to 44 years and aged 65 years and over. Deaths decreased for groups aged 45 to 64 years and remained at zero in those aged under 15 years in the latest week (ending 29 April 2022). Deaths were highest in those aged 85 years and over (546 deaths) and lowest in those aged under 15 years, where there were none.
The data used in the chart come from the Coronavirus Infection Survey, National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports, and Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional.
Last updated: 13/05/2022
COVID-19-positive admissions decreased in all age groups
COVID-19-positive hospital admissions as a percentage of the rate during the January peak (rate in week ending 17 January 2021 = 100%), by age, England
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Hospital admission rates decreased in all age groups in the week ending 8 May 2022. Rates are below the peak levels from 17 January 2021 in all groups aged 5 years and over. The overall admission rate in those aged 5 to 14 years continued to be the lowest across age groups.
Despite the latest decrease, the COVID-19-confirmed hospital admission rate for those aged under five years is still slightly higher than the January 2021 peak value. However, admission rates for those aged under five years are relatively low.
The age differences between current rates and those seen in January 2021 likely reflect vaccine uptake in different age groups and the age prioritisation of the vaccination booster programme in England.
Last updated: 13/05/2022
Read more about this in National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report
Hospital admissions by region
Hospital admissions decreased in all English regions, while deaths increased in most
Change in hospital admission rates and numbers of deaths involving COVID-19 from previous week, England, weeks ending 8 May and 29 April 2022
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Hospital admission rates of COVID-19-confirmed patients decreased in all English regions (week ending 8 May 2022). The largest decrease was in the North East.
The number of registered deaths involving COVID-19 increased in six out of nine English regions (week ending 29 April 2022). Deaths decreased in the North East and London, and remained the same in the West Midlands. The largest increase was in Yorkshire and The Humber (51 more deaths) and the largest decrease was in the North East (17 fewer deaths).
The data used in the chart come from National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports and Deaths registered weekly in England and Wales, provisional
Last updated: 13/05/2022
Further information
Data on overall hospital admissions, and ICU and HDU admissions presented here are collected by the UK Health Security Agency and available on the GOV.UK coronavirus dashboard and national flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports. This data come from the Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) Watch surveillance system, which monitors the number of patients with confirmed flu and COVID-19 admitted to hospital and critical care units (ICU and HDU) in England. These data are provisional and subject to revision, and previous estimates may be updated in subsequent weeks.
To find out more about hospital admissions data visit our more information page.
More information on hospitals and health is available on each of the relevant nation's websites: Public Health Agency (PHA) for Northern Ireland, Public Health Scotland (PHS), and Public Health Wales (PHW).