The FINANCIAL – The number of people with the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England appears to be levelling off, with 633,000 people estimated to have had COVID-19 in the most recent week (15 to 21 November 2020). This equates to 1 in 85 people.
Trends vary in the other UK nations. Positivity rates have decreased in Wales and Northern Ireland from their October peaks – they now stand at 1 in 185 and 1 in 145 people respectively. However, rates have increased in Scotland, with 1 in 115 people estimated to have had the virus over the last week.
At a regional level in England, the highest positivity rates are seen in Yorkshire and The Humber, the North West and the North East.
Rates appear to be decreasing or levelling off in the majority of English regions, with only the North East and East Midlands showing signs of increase.
Positivity rates are decreasing or levelling off across most of England, apart from the East Midlands and the North East
Weekly deaths involving COVID-19 reach highest since May
There were 2,466 deaths involving the coronavirus (COVID-19) in England and Wales in the week ending 13 November 2020, the highest weekly figure since the week ending 22 May 2020.
By region, the highest number of COVID-19 deaths was reported in the North West (615 deaths), followed by Yorkshire and the Humber (450).
In total, there were 12,254 deaths across England and Wales in the week ending 13 November 2020, of which one in five (20.1%) involved COVID-19.
Total deaths in the latest week remained higher than normal for this time of year, with hospitals, care homes and private homes all recording deaths in excess of the five-year average
Deaths in England and Wales were above average for the tenth consecutive week
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 61,136 COVID-19 deaths registered in England and Wales, up to 13 November 2020 (33,804 men and 27,332 women).
The majority of deaths involving COVID-19 have been among people aged 65 years and over (54,698 out of 61,136).
Around 1 in 15 people in England tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies in October
An estimated 6.9% of the population in England would have tested positive for antibodies to the coronavirus (COVID-19) in October 2020. Testing positive for antibodies suggests a previous COVID-19 infection.
The latest analysis from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey (CIS) shows substantial variation in the proportion of people who tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies in different English regions. In London, more than 10% of the population would have tested positive for antibodies in October, compared with just over 3% of people in the South West.
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