coronavirus

Summary of current Covid-19 position (5th April):
The total number of PCR confirmed cases reduced by 28% this week, an improvement on the 16% reduction we saw last week. There was a corresponding improvement in hospital admissions, with a reduction of 9% in the week to 3rd April.

In the week to 5th April, the number of PCR confirmed cases reduced by 28% to 32 cases per 100,000. The case rate fell in all areas, with the reduction varying from 22% in the East of England to 34% in the South East.

The diagram below illustrates the current proliferation of Covid subvariants as at 26th February. Each seems to be lasting for about six months before being replaced by competitors. Recently we have been very lucky not to have encountered a dangerous mutation. Source: HSA Tech Briefing 51.

Covid variants

As from 24th March, the weekly ONS Covid Survey has been discontinued. However. given the trend in hospital admissions, we estimate that, in the week to 5th April, the proportion of people in England with Covid was one in 47, which is 2.1% of the population

The graph below shows the ONS data up to the week of 13th March.

Covid percentage infected

In the week to 3rd April, the number of hospital admissions in England reduced by 9% to 5,759.

Covid hospital admissions

At 7,005, the number of hospital beds in England occupied by Covid patients on 5th April was 12% less than the number a week earlier and was 20% of the peak of 34,336 in January 2021.

Covid hospital inpatients

In the week to 24th March there were 584 deaths in England where Covid was mentioned on the death certificate (by date registered), 14% more than the previous week. The reason for the increase is unclear.

Covid death registrations

Although the booster programme increased the number of people vaccinated in the last six months from a low point of 9.2m in September to 19.2m in December, it has since gradually declined to 13.8m. A total of 26m people (mostly over 50s) are eligible to receive the booster but it has not been offered to more than half of the population. A spring booster programme was announced on 7th March for people over 75, those in care homes or with a weak immune system.

Covid vaccinations

For more detail, see our reports for England and the Regions, and for all local authorities.

For details for our best practice controls for Coronavirus, please click here.

John Hargreaves
11th April 2023



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