Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey, UK - 9 December 2022

12th December 2022

Percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in private residential households in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, including regional and age breakdowns.

The following points are for the week ending 26 November 2022 for England, the week ending 24 November for Scotland and Wales, and the week ending 23 November 2022 for Northern Ireland.

The percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) continued to increase in England, increased in Northern Ireland and the trend was uncertain in Wales and Scotland.

In England, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 941,700 (95% credible interval: 874,100 to 1,013,600), equating to 1.73% of the population (an increase from 1.60% in the previous week), or around 1 in 60 people.

In Wales, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 43,400 (95% credible interval: 33,200 to 55,100), equating to 1.43% of the population, or around 1 in 70 people.

In Northern Ireland, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 36,700 (95% credible interval: 27,000 to 47,100), equating to 2.00% of the population (an increase from 1.57% in the previous week), or around 1 in 50 people.

In Scotland, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 88,500 (95% credible interval: 71,000 to 106,800), equating to 1.68% of the population, or around 1 in 60 people.

The reference day for Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland is slightly earlier this week because of lower numbers of test results received than usual, possibly as a result of the recent postal strikes. For all UK countries, some results may have more uncertainty and be subject to change as more test results are received for this period.

The positivity rate is the percentage of people who would have tested positive for COVID-19 on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at a point in time. We use current COVID-19 infections to mean testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, with or without having symptoms, on a swab taken from the nose and throat. This is different to the incidence rate, which is a measure of only the new PCR positive cases in a given time period. Data are based on confirmed positive COVID-19 test results from those living in private households, excluding those living in care homes or other communal establishments.

COVID-19 by UK countries
In the week ending 26 November 2022, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) continued to increase in England. In Northern Ireland, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased in the week ending 23 November 2022. In the week ending 24 November 2022, the trend was uncertain in Wales and Scotland.

Note
Read the full report at
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/9december2022

From Public Health Scotland 7 December 2022
In Scotland, in the week ending 21 November 2022, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 91,100 (95% credible interval: 74,000 to 110,100), equating to 1.73% of the population, or around 1 in 60 people (Source: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK - Office for National Statistics)

In the week ending 27 November 2022, there were 40 deaths involving COVID-19 (the same as the previous week) (Source: National Records of Scotland)

In the latest week ending 4 December 2022:

on average there were 622 patients in hospital with COVID-19, a 9.1% increase from the previous week ending 27 November 2022 (570)
there were 7 new admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) with a laboratory-confirmed test of COVID-19, an decrease of 4 from the previous week (27 November 2022)
of the 1,878,002 people vaccinated for COVID-19 as part of the Winter 2022 vaccination programme, 90.8% were vaccinated for Flu at the same vaccination appointment