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Weekly National Flu And COVID-19 Surveillance Reports Published - 15 July 2021

National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring coronavirus (COVID-19) activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

The main points from this week’s national influenza and COVID-19 surveillance report are:

Surveillance indicators suggest that at a national level COVID-19 activity increased in week 27 of 2021.

Case rates rose in all age groups with the most significant increase seen in younger age groups.

Case rates continued to be highest in those aged 20 to 29, with a 7-day rate of 747.3 per 100,000 population.

The lowest case rates were in those aged 80 and above, with a 7-day rate of 39.9 per 100,000 population.

Seven-day case rates per 100,000 population increased across all regions.

Seven-day case rates per 100,000 population were highest in the North East at 835.8.

Case rates per 100,000 were lowest in the South East, with a 7-day rate of 249.4.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) in England was 641 in week 27, compared to 623 in the previous week.

The hospital admission rate for week 27 was 4.43 per 100,000 population, in the previous week it was 2.76 per 100,000 population.

Hospital admission rates for COVID-19 were highest in the North West, with a rate of 10.46 per 100,000 population.

The highest hospital admission rates continue to be those aged 85 and above.

Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director at Public Health England, said:

COVID-19 has not gone away, you could become severely unwell or pass on the virus to someone without knowing.

"As more restrictions lift on Monday, we must remember that COVID-19 has not gone away, you could become severely unwell or pass on the virus to someone without knowing. Case and hospitalisation rates continue to rise. We must all be sensible.

"Remember it is safer to be outside when mixing with friends and family and when inside, open windows to help ventilation. The best way to protect yourself is to have both doses of the vaccine as soon as you are offered. Do not delay. We should all continue to get tested twice a week and anyone who has symptoms should seek a test immediately and stay at home while they await their result."