Infections decrease in England and Wales

Trends were uncertain in Northern Ireland and Scotland in the most recent week.

The estimated number of people living in private households (not in hospitals, care homes and/or other communal establishments) that had COVID-19 in the most recent week was:

• • 2,449,100 people (1 in 20) in England
  • 12,600 people (1 in 25) in Wales
  • 146,600 people (1 in 13) in Northern Ireland
  • 219,300 people (1 in 25) in Scotland

The COVID-19 infection rate decreased in England and Wales, while the trends were uncertain in Northern Ireland and Scotland

Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on nose and throat swabs, UK, 20 February 2021 to 13 February 2022

Behavioural characteristics and positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests

People who had any physical contact with those aged under 18 years were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than people who had not.

This is one of several behavioural characteristics associated with testing positive identified for the fortnight ending 29 January 2022, while taking other demographics and characteristics into account.

In the same time period of the fortnight ending 29 January 2022:

• school aged children who reported never wearing a face covering at school were more likely to test positive than children who reported always wearing a face covering.
• School aged children who reported not needing to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces were more likely to test positive than children who reported always wearing a face covering.
• People who had 1 to 10 physical contacts with 18- to 69-year-olds were more likely to test positive than people who had no physical contact with 18- to 69-year-olds.
• Those who spent more time socialising with others outside their household continued to be more likely to test positive.
• Adults who reported sometimes or never wearing a face covering at work were more likely to test positive than adults who reported always wearing a face covering.

People who had physical contact with those aged under 18 years were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than people who had not in the fortnight ending 29 January 2022

Estimated likelihood of testing positive for coronavirus on nose and throat swabs by behavioural characteristics, UK, 16 to 29 January 2022

Deaths involving COVID-19 fall in England

The number of deaths in the UK involving coronavirus (COVID-19) fell to 1,390 in the week ending 4 February 2022. This was 155 fewer than the previous week, accounting for around one in every 10 deaths (10.3%).

There were 13,472 total deaths registered in the UK in the week ending 4 February 2022, which was 8.7% below the five-year average.

The number of deaths involving COVID-19 fell in England and rose in Wales in the week ending 4 February 2022.

Between 13 March 2020 and 4 February 2022, there have been 123,153 excess deaths above the five-year average in England and Wales; of these, 118,210 were recorded in England and 6,244 were recorded in Wales.

Our data are based on deaths registered in England and Wales and include all deaths where “novel coronavirus (COVID-19)” was mentioned on the death certificate. Weekly figures are available by local authority and health board.

COVID-19 case rates highest for the White British ethnic group during the third wave

The socio-demographic groups at highest risk of infection have changed over the course of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

After adjusting for personal characteristics, the case rate was highest in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic groups during the second wave (1 September 2020 to 22 May 2021), but it has been highest in the White British ethnic group since the start of the third wave (23 May 2021).

However, these patterns differ by age groups, particularly in the third wave.

While case rates were lower in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic groups than in the White British ethnic group among people aged below 65 years, it was higher among people aged 65 years and over. This may partly explain the continued higher risk of mortality during the third wave for these groups compared with the White British ethnic group.

COVID-19 case rates were highest among the Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic groups in the second wave, but highest in the White British ethnic group in the third

Odds ratios for receiving a positive test for COVID-19 by ethnic group, 1 September 2020 to 10 December 2021, England

In the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, case rates were higher in households from lower socio-economic groups than in more affluent ones. However, in the third wave there was little difference between socio-economic groups, other than those who had never worked or were long-term unemployed, who had the lowest rates.

Case rates also differed by religion, with people identifying as Muslim or Sikh having the highest rates in the second wave, whereas the Christian group had the highest rates in the third.

Percentage of workforce self-isolating by sector

The percentage of people self-isolating increased in the social care, teaching and education and health care sectors in the two weeks ending 29 January 2022.

The sectors with the highest percentage of the workforce in self-isolation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) were social care (4.0%) and teaching and education (3.9%), with 95% confidence intervals. The retail sector had the lowest estimated percentage of the workforce in self-isolation at 2.2%.

On 29 January 2022, the social care, health care, and food production, agriculture and farming sector reached estimates within one percentage point of their early January peak. It is estimated that the teaching and education sector may have passed its early January peak.

Overall, in England, the percentage of the working-age population self-isolating increased in the two weeks ending 29 January 2022 (to 2.7% from 2.2% on 15 January 2022). In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the trend in the percentage of the working-age population self-isolating due to COVID-19 showed some possible signs of an increase in the two weeks ending 29 January 2022 but with high uncertainty.

On 29 January 2022 the sectors with the highest estimated percentage of people self-isolating due to COVID-19 were teaching and education and social care

Estimated percentage of the workforce self-isolating because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), by work sector from 5 December 2021 to 29 January 2022, United Kingdom

Trends were uncertain in Northern Ireland and Scotland in the most recent week.

The estimated number of people living in private households (not in hospitals, care homes and/or other communal establishments) that had COVID-19 in the most recent week was:

• • 2,449,100 people (1 in 20) in England
  • 12,600 people (1 in 25) in Wales
  • 146,600 people (1 in 13) in Northern Ireland
  • 219,300 people (1 in 25) in Scotland

The COVID-19 infection rate decreased in England and Wales, while the trends were uncertain in Northern Ireland and Scotland

Estimated percentage of the population testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) on nose and throat swabs, UK, 20 February 2021 to 13 February 2022

Behavioural characteristics and positive coronavirus (COVID-19) tests

People who had any physical contact with those aged under 18 years were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than people who had not.

This is one of several behavioural characteristics associated with testing positive identified for the fortnight ending 29 January 2022, while taking other demographics and characteristics into account.

In the same time period of the fortnight ending 29 January 2022:

• school aged children who reported never wearing a face covering at school were more likely to test positive than children who reported always wearing a face covering.
• School aged children who reported not needing to wear a face covering in enclosed spaces were more likely to test positive than children who reported always wearing a face covering.
• People who had 1 to 10 physical contacts with 18- to 69-year-olds were more likely to test positive than people who had no physical contact with 18- to 69-year-olds.
• Those who spent more time socialising with others outside their household continued to be more likely to test positive.
• Adults who reported sometimes or never wearing a face covering at work were more likely to test positive than adults who reported always wearing a face covering.

People who had physical contact with those aged under 18 years were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than people who had not in the fortnight ending 29 January 2022

Estimated likelihood of testing positive for coronavirus on nose and throat swabs by behavioural characteristics, UK, 16 to 29 January 2022

Deaths involving COVID-19 fall in England

The number of deaths in the UK involving coronavirus (COVID-19) fell to 1,390 in the week ending 4 February 2022. This was 155 fewer than the previous week, accounting for around one in every 10 deaths (10.3%).

There were 13,472 total deaths registered in the UK in the week ending 4 February 2022, which was 8.7% below the five-year average.

The number of deaths involving COVID-19 fell in England and rose in Wales in the week ending 4 February 2022.

Between 13 March 2020 and 4 February 2022, there have been 123,153 excess deaths above the five-year average in England and Wales; of these, 118,210 were recorded in England and 6,244 were recorded in Wales.

Our data are based on deaths registered in England and Wales and include all deaths where “novel coronavirus (COVID-19)” was mentioned on the death certificate. Weekly figures are available by local authority and health board.

COVID-19 case rates highest for the White British ethnic group during the third wave

The socio-demographic groups at highest risk of infection have changed over the course of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

After adjusting for personal characteristics, the case rate was highest in the Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic groups during the second wave (1 September 2020 to 22 May 2021), but it has been highest in the White British ethnic group since the start of the third wave (23 May 2021).

However, these patterns differ by age groups, particularly in the third wave.

While case rates were lower in the Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnic groups than in the White British ethnic group among people aged below 65 years, it was higher among people aged 65 years and over. This may partly explain the continued higher risk of mortality during the third wave for these groups compared with the White British ethnic group.

COVID-19 case rates were highest among the Pakistani and Bangladeshi ethnic groups in the second wave, but highest in the White British ethnic group in the third

Odds ratios for receiving a positive test for COVID-19 by ethnic group, 1 September 2020 to 10 December 2021, England

In the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, case rates were higher in households from lower socio-economic groups than in more affluent ones. However, in the third wave there was little difference between socio-economic groups, other than those who had never worked or were long-term unemployed, who had the lowest rates.

Case rates also differed by religion, with people identifying as Muslim or Sikh having the highest rates in the second wave, whereas the Christian group had the highest rates in the third.

Percentage of workforce self-isolating by sector

The percentage of people self-isolating increased in the social care, teaching and education and health care sectors in the two weeks ending 29 January 2022.

The sectors with the highest percentage of the workforce in self-isolation due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) were social care (4.0%) and teaching and education (3.9%), with 95% confidence intervals. The retail sector had the lowest estimated percentage of the workforce in self-isolation at 2.2%.

On 29 January 2022, the social care, health care, and food production, agriculture and farming sector reached estimates within one percentage point of their early January peak. It is estimated that the teaching and education sector may have passed its early January peak.

Overall, in England, the percentage of the working-age population self-isolating increased in the two weeks ending 29 January 2022 (to 2.7% from 2.2% on 15 January 2022). In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the trend in the percentage of the working-age population self-isolating due to COVID-19 showed some possible signs of an increase in the two weeks ending 29 January 2022 but with high uncertainty.

On 29 January 2022 the sectors with the highest estimated percentage of people self-isolating due to COVID-19 were teaching and education and social care

Estimated percentage of the workforce self-isolating because of the coronavirus (COVID-19), by work sector from 5 December 2021 to 29 January 2022, United Kingdom