There were 139 deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England and Wales in the week ending 18 September 2020.

The FINANCIAL — There were 139 deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England and Wales in the week ending 18 September 2020.This remains far below numbers seen earlier in the pandemic, and accounts for just 1.5% of all deaths in the latest week. The total number of deaths in the week ending 18 September 2020 was 9,523 (above the five-year average for the fifth time in the past six weeks).

By setting, private homes continued to record deaths above average. Hospitals, care homes and other locations had fewer deaths than normal at this time of year.

Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 52,631 COVID-19 deaths registered in England and Wales, up to 18 September 2020 (28,967 men and 23,664 women).

The majority of deaths involving COVID-19 have been among people aged 65 years and over (47,005 out of 52,631).

Characteristics of people testing positive for COVID-19

Our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey has shown the number of infections in the community in England rising in recent weeks. New analysis of the characteristics of those testing positive shows that shows that in recent weeks, COVID-19 positivity rates have been higher amongst people who have travelled abroad, although increases are seen in both those who have and have not travelled.

Our latest analysis suggests that socially distant direct contact in younger age groups is an increasingly important factor in contracting COVID-19. For individuals aged under 35 years, positivity rates have increased over time among those who report having had socially distanced direct contact with six or more people aged 18 to 69 years. This means that reporting having had socially distanced direct contact with a larger number of people appears to be an increasingly important factor in rising positivity rates in the younger age groups.

However, we have found no evidence that patient-facing roles or working location are driving the greater increase in positivity rate in younger age groups in recent weeks.

Young people in the labour market

The impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on young people in the labour market is the focus of today’s Labour market economic analysis publication.

In the year to May to July 2020, the employment rate for young people reduced by 1.9 percentage points to 52.9%. The decrease in employment rate in the quarter to May to July 2020 was stronger for those aged 16 to 24 years, compared with all other age groups.

During the lockdown, young people were more likely than other age groups to be away from paid work. 38.7% of young people aged 16 to 19 years were temporarily away from work in this period, while 26.6% of those aged 20 to 24 years were also temporarily away from work. The people who were temporarily away from work include those who were on furlough.

Figures on take-up rates for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) show that young workers aged between ages 16 and 17 years have higher furloughing take-up rates (averaging 59%) than those aged 18 to 24 years (averaging 44%). Both of these rates were higher than the total take-up rate of 31%.

COVID-19 infection survey

The number of people in England who have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) has continued to increase in recent weeks.

An estimated 103,600 people within the community population in England had COVID-19 during the latest week, from 13 to 19 September 2020, equating to around 1 in 500 people.

The current infection rates have increased in all ages groups, with the highest rates found in the 17 to 24 years age group.

By region, there is evidence of higher infection rates in the North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, London and North East.

Between 13 and 19 September 2020, there were around 1.75 new COVID-19 infections for every 10,000 people per day in the community population in England, equating to around 9,600 new cases per day.