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ONS Figures Show Increase In Covid Infections In England And Wales

Infections have increased in England, Wales and Northern Ireland according to stats published today Friday 23rd July 2021 which cover the UK

Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases continued to increase in England and have increased in Wales and Northern Ireland in the week ending 17 July 2021, while in Scotland the trend is uncertain in the most recent week.

The estimated percentage of the community population (those not in hospitals, care homes or other institutional settings) that had COVID-19 was:

• 1.36% (1 in 75 people) in England, up from 1.06% (1 in 95 people) last week
• 0.47% (1 in 210 people) in Wales, up from 0.28% (1 in 360 people) last week
• 0.59% (1 in 170 people) in Northern Ireland, up from 0.34% (1 in 290 people) last week
• 1.24% (1 in 80 people) in Scotland, compared with 1.14% (1 in 90 people) last week

Across England, the percentage of people testing positive continued to increase in all age groups in the week ending 17 July 2021, except for those in school Year 7 to school Year 11 where the trend is uncertain.

Infections have also continued to increase in all English regions in the most recent week, except for the North East and North West, where the trends are uncertain.

UK Stats For Covid-19 infections July

But how are these statistics compiled and who analysis them?

The Office of National Statistics is considered to provide definitive statistical information on a whole variety of subjects which can often determine Government policies or at least influence them.

However, it is important to understand the limitations of the statistical evidence. The ONS pints out that:

1. All estimates are subject to uncertainty, given that a sample is only part of the wider population. The model used to provide these estimates is a Bayesian model: these provide 95% credible intervals. A credible interval gives an indication of the uncertainty of an estimate from data analysis. The 95% credible intervals are calculated so that there is a 95% probability of the true value lying in the interval.
2. Official reported estimates are plotted at a reference point believed to be most representative of the given week.
3. The official estimate presents the best estimate at that point in time. Modelled estimates are used to calculate the official reported estimate. The model smooths the series to understand the trend and is revised each week to incorporate new test results, providing the best indication of trend over time.
4. Survey fieldwork for the pilot study began in England on 26 April 2020. In Wales, fieldwork began on 29 June 2020, in Northern Ireland fieldwork began on 26 July 2020 and in Scotland fieldwork began on 21 September 2020.

For the Covid-19 infection study, the US data company IQVIA processes the registration of volunteers taking part in the study and the raw data it gathers on behalf of the ONS and the University of Oxford.

This US company also employs the staff that are used to make visits to the homes of those participating in the UK-wide study, and whose telephone advisers book appointments for a nurse or study health worker to visit the participants home to complete the study.

For details about the study, and those organisations carrying out the study, visit the ONS website here

Full information and how to take part is available via the ONS website here

You can download or view on-line the latest Covid-19 Infections Bulletin here

As previously reported by Unionsafety, the involvement of IQVIA and other US data and healthcare and insurance companies has been the case since 2010, with the practice of embedding US companies within NHS Trusts, NHS England, NHS Digital and indeed in all ares of the NHS!

Billions of pounds of NHS funding has been given to these American companies, and it is about to get worse after the Health and Care Bill gets passed later this year.

Source: ONS / Unionsafety

See also: NHS Privatisation News Archive

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