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

England’s Covid hospitalisations have surged by a third, official data revealed today after the NHS was put on alert for the ‘worst winter flu outbreak in years’.

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

And separate Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures today showed there were 1.1million infected with the virus on any given day in the week up to December 5. 

It was the first time cases breached 1million since November 1 and was up 16 per cent on the 941,700 recorded the week before. 

Office for National Statistics ( ONS ) figures today showed there were 1.1million infected with the virus on any given day in the week up to December 5. It was the first time cases breached 1million since November 1 and was up 16 per cent on the 941,700 recorded the week before

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

The number of patients with Covid in English hospitals increased to 6,720 on Wednesday, up 22 per cent on the 5,501 in beds the week before

But the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care is not nearly as high, with 150 on mechanical ventilation beds on the same day. It was up more than a quarter a quarter on the 119 recorded a week before

The figures are the latest sign that flu is becoming steadily more prevalent among the population

While Covid cases and admissions soar, Britain is being hit by a separate ‘flu-nami’ that has seen hospitalisations for the winter virus outstrip coronavirus.

Experts are warning that increased mixing indoors due to the cold weather is leading to more people catching disease such as flu, Covid and other winter viruses. 

Downing Street urged Brits to get their flu jabs as the number of hospitalisation surged to more than eight times higher than would be expected at this time of year.

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: ‘We are seeing higher levels of flu circulating this year and, as of this week, hospital admissions for flu are higher than that for Covid.’ 

The number of patients with Covid in English hospitals increased to 6,720 on Wednesday, up 22 per cent on the 5,501 in beds the week before.

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

It was up more than a quarter a quarter on the 119 recorded a week before.

Covid hospital admission data includes patients who went in for different ailments and happened to test positive for the virus.

But patients with the virus still have to be isolated in hospitals, piling more pressure on struggling departments that are especially short-staffed on strike days.

Meanwhile, today’s ONS data show Covid cases, meanwhile, are continuing to increase in all four nations of 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 in adults aged 25 to 34, with 2.9 per cent infected on any given day during the week. 

They were followed by people aged 35 to 49 (2.5 per cent), 11 to 16 (2.4 per cent) and over-50s (1.9).

Children in primary school had the lowest infection rate, dropping to 1.4 per cent. 

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

Meanwhile, today’s ONS data show Covid cases, meanwhile, are continuing to increase in all four nations of the UK

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

Regionally, the East of England and London had the most infections, with 2.3 per cent of people in both areas having 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 the Humber (1.9 per cent).

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

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

‘The trend in infections varies across the English regions and ages, and we will continue to monitor the data carefully as the winter months progress.’

While Covid continues to grow, experts are increasingly even more worried about spiralling flu cases. 

For the first time since the pandemic began people are being admitted to hospital with influenza at a higher rate than with Covid, although both of these are rising.

According to NHS data the rate of flu admissions stood at 6.8 per 100,000 people in the week to December 11 – nearly doubling from 3.9 per 100,000 the week before – while for the same week there was 6.6 per 100,000 for Covid.

There have been suggestions that if the trend continues the UK could see its worst flu outbreak since the winter of 2017/18, which killed 30,000 people, the Telegraph reports.

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

The situation could be exacerbated as nurses and ambulance staff go on strike amid long-running disputes with the Government over pay and conditions.

On Thursday around 100,000 nurses walked out of their jobs, with another strike due on Tuesday, December 20, and further action set to take place in the New Year if no deal is reached.

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