News – BuDS

Articles in Covid-19

Covid infection risk still lowest ever. Covid risk level remains Moderate at 1 in 640. BA 3.2 Cicada not causing new wave.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 29 March 2026

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026 Ben Clark

More good news, as infection levels in England stay at their lowest level since 2021. The risk level is still Moderate, with 1 in every 640 people in England infected. In other good news, other respiratory viruses are now back at baseline levels. The risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, in the community remains at its lowest ever level.

Screenshot from the BBC News website showing the headline "Assisted dying bill will not now become law, say both sides" over a picture of both pro- and anti-assisted dying demonstrators.

Assisted Suicide Bill In Westminster Falls

March 27, 2026March 27, 2026 Ben Clark

More great news, as the Assisted Suicide Bill in the Westminster Parliament also falls, joining the Scottish Bill which was voted down last week.

The multimillionaire lobbyists behind these Bills are spreading an untrue story that the Westminster Bill failed because it was ‘talked out’ by opponents in the House of Lords. This story is objectively untrue for the following reasons.

Responding To The Timms Review

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 Ben Clark

The Government have decided to review Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This page is designed to help disabled people understand this Review and contribute to it.

Why Is This Review Happening?

In the summer of 2025, the Government introduced legislation to cut PIP so that fewer disabled people would be able to claim it. However, many MPS said they would not support this plan and so the Government said that no cuts would be made to PIP until after PIP had been ‘fully reviewed’.

Covid infection risk remains lowest ever. Covid risk level still Moderate at 1 in 648. Other respiratory viruses back to baseline.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 22 March 2026

March 24, 2026March 24, 2026 Ben Clark

The Covid good news continues, as infection levels in England remain at their lowest level since 2021. The risk level remains Moderate, with 1 in every 648 people in England infected. In other good news, other respiratory viruses are mostly now back at baseline levels. Overall, the risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, in the community remains at its lowest ever level.

More good news as Covid risk lowest ever. Covid risk level falls to Moderate at 1 in 638. Other respiratory viruses nearly back to baseline.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 15 March 2026

March 18, 2026March 18, 2026 Ben Clark

More Covid good news, as infection levels fall to their lowest level since 2021. For the first time, we have reduced the risk level to Moderate, with 1 in every 638 people in England infected. In other good news, other respiratory viruses are mostly now back at baseline levels. Overall, the risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, in the community is at its lowest ever level.

Because of the lag in publishing other Covid data, we are basing our risk assessment this week entirely on NOIDS data. However, this data historically has been reliable, and we are confident as clinically vulnerable people ourselves that our assessment is accurate.

A white blonde woman wearing a white t-shirt leaning her hand on a wall with her other hand to her head indicating pain. Stock image.

Meningitis Alert

March 16, 2026March 16, 2026 Ben Clark

Article accurate as of 16 March 2026

There has been an outbreak of “invasive meningococcal disease” in the Canterbury area of Kent. Two teenagers have died, and a number are seriously ill. The NHS are warning that anyone who becomes unwell with symptoms of meningitis or septicaemia should go immediately to A&E or call 999.

Cases of this serious disease have not been reported outside Kent so far. The NHS is giving antibiotics to thousands of people in the area to try and prevent any spread. However, meningitis can and does spread between people. For this reason, we are warning all disabled people, carers, and clinically vulnerable people to be on special alert for the symptoms.

Good news continues as Covid risk remains lower. Covid risk level is Moderately High at 1 in 495. Other respiratory viruses still not back to baseline.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 1 March 2026

March 4, 2026March 4, 2026 Ben Clark

The Covid good news continues for another week, with risk levels remaining Moderately High and 1 in every 495 people in England infected. Other respiratory viruses, such as influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remain above baseline but continue to decline. Overall, the risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, is still at historically lower levels.

A projectile explodes over the water in the bay of Haifa off the coast of northern Israel - 28th February 2026. Image copyright Getty Images/BBC

The US & Israeli Attack on Iran

February 28, 2026March 2, 2026 Freya Clark

Post updated 2 March 2026

Many of you will have been alarmed by the news of the US & Israeli attack on Iran and be wondering what this means for you. We’ve put together some reliable, fact-checked, information to help you better understand the situation and take any necessary action.

Good news – Covid risk remains historically lower. Covid risk level is Moderately High at 1 in 419. Other respiratory viruses still above baseline.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 22 February 2026

February 27, 2026February 27, 2026 Ben Clark

The Covid good news continues for a further week, with risk levels remaining Moderately High and 1 in every 419 people in England infected. Other respiratory viruses, such as influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remain above baseline but continue to fall fast. Overall, the risk from respiratory viruses, including Covid, remains at historically lower levels.

As clinically-vulnerable people ourselves, we are reasonably confident that this is a robust risk assessment.

An infographic in blue and yellow. On the left is a picture of a disabled person in a power wheelchair. On the right is the text: "Timms Review: Listen To All Disabled People. BuDS has joined with 50 other charities and disabled people's organisations to urge the Timms Review of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) to consult all disabled people."

Timms Review: BuDS Calls For Genuine Co-Production

February 26, 2026March 14, 2026 Ben Clark

BuDS has joined with 50 other charities and disabled people’s organisations to urge the Timms Review of Personal Independent Payment (PIP) to consult very widely with disabled people receiving all types of benefit.