Covid-19 UK: Winter wave picks up pace as hospital admissions soar by a third

England’s Covid hospitalizations have risen by a third in a week, official figures revealed today after warnings the NHS is being hit by the flu.

Figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show 965 coronavirus patients were admitted on Monday, up from 724 the week before.

And separate figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today showed that on any day of the week ended December 5, 1.1 million had been infected with the virus.

It was the first time since November 1 that cases had surpassed 1 million and was 16 percent more than the 941,700 recorded the week before. That means 1 in 50 was infected.

Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland in the North West had the highest case rate, with 2.5 per cent of infections during the week.

Today’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures showed that on any day of the week ended December 5, 1.1 million people had been infected with the virus. It was the first time 1 million cases had been breached since November 1, and that was a 16 per cent increase from 941,700 recorded the week before

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows 965 coronavirus patients were admitted on Monday, up from 724 the week before

The number of patients with Covid in English hospitals rose to 6,720 on Wednesday, up 22 per cent from the 5,501 a week earlier

But the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care isn’t nearly as high, with 150 on the same day on beds with mechanical ventilation. It was more than a quarter of a quarter higher than the 119 recorded a week earlier

The numbers are the latest sign that the flu is spreading among the population

As Covid cases and admissions soar, the UK is being hit by a separate flu outbreak, with hospital admissions for the winter virus outstripping the coronavirus.

Experts warn that increasing indoor mixing due to cold weather is leading to more people catching pathogens like the flu and Covid.

Some claim that lockdown restrictions early in the pandemic also reduced people’s immunity to wintertime viruses.

Downing Street has urged Brits to get the flu shot as hospital admissions have risen more than eightfold than might be expected at this time of year.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “We are seeing higher levels of flu circulating this year and as of this week hospitalizations for flu are higher than for Covid.”

The number of patients with Covid in English hospitals rose to 6,720 on Wednesday, up 22 per cent from the 5,501 a week earlier.

But the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care isn’t nearly as high, with 150 on the same day on beds with mechanical ventilation.

It was more than a quarter higher than the 119 recorded a week earlier.

Covid hospital admissions data includes patients being treated for various diseases who happened to test positive for the virus.

But patients with the virus still have to be isolated in hospitals, adding pressure on struggling departments, which are particularly understaffed on strike days.

Meanwhile, today’s ONS data shows that Covid cases continue to rise in all four countries in the UK.

Infections rose 14 per cent to 100,700 in Scotland, 29 per cent to 55,900 in Wales and 5 per cent to 38,700 in Northern Ireland.

In England, Covid was most prevalent among adults aged 25 to 34, with 2.9 per cent infected on any given day during the week.

They are followed by the 35 to 49 year olds (2.5 percent), the 11 to 16 year olds (2.4 percent) and the over 50 year olds (1.9 percent).

Children in elementary school had the lowest infection rate, dropping to 1.4 percent.

Regionally, the east of England and London had the most infections, with 2.3 per cent of people in both areas contracting Covid.

Meanwhile, today’s ONS data shows that Covid cases continue to rise in all four countries in the UK

In England, Covid was most prevalent among adults aged 25 to 34, with 2.9 per cent infected on any given day during the week. They are followed by the 35 to 49 year olds (2.5 percent), the 11 to 16 year olds (2.4 percent) and the over 50 year olds (1.9 percent).

Regionally, the east of England and London had the most infections, with 2.3 per cent of people in both areas contracting Covid

They were followed by the North West and South West (both 2.1 per cent) and the North East, South East and Yorkshire and Humber (1.9 per cent).

By comparison, in the East Midlands and West Midlands, 1.6 per cent of residents were infected.

Michelle Bowen, head of health surveillance dissemination and strategy, said: “Across most parts of the UK we have seen infections picking up again, with England now at levels similar to those at the end of September this year.

“The trend in infections varies by region and age in England and we will continue to monitor the data carefully over the course of the winter months.”

As Covid continues to grow, experts are becoming increasingly concerned about the spiral of flu cases.

For the first time since the pandemic began, people with influenza are being hospitalized more often than with Covid, although both are increasing.

According to NHS data, the rate of flu admissions was 6.8 per 100,000 people in the week ending December 11 – almost doubling from 3.9 per 100,000 the week before – while it was 6.6 per 100,000 for the same week Covid gave.

There were indications that if the trend continues, the UK could face its worst flu outbreak since the winter of 2017/18, which killed 30,000 people.

It could not have come at a worse time for the NHS, which is facing a record backlog – more than seven million people are known to have been waiting for treatment in October this year – and is also dealing with a Strep A outbreak.

The situation could worsen if nurses and ambulances go on strike amid long-running disputes with the government over pay and working conditions.

Around 100,000 nurses quit their jobs on Thursday, another strike is planned for Tuesday 20 December and further action is due to take place in the new year if no deal is reached.

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