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The number of Covid-19 infected people in Bucks continues to increase quickly, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released today (1 July 2022). Infection levels started to increase 3 weeks ago, and are still increasing very rapidly. The third wave of Covid-19 this year is growing far faster than predicted, and looks at this stage as if it could be as bad as or worse than the previous two waves.

It is important to remember that Covid-19 is NOT mild – it is not the flu, or a cold. While most vaccinated people will not need to go into hospital, Covid-19 can still make vaccinated people very ill at home. Also, of course, if you catch Covid-19, you run a risk of developing serious post-Covid conditions, or permanent damage to your organs and brain.

The THIRD wave of 2022 continues to impact Bucks. Although cases have remained roughly the same, the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 has SOARED, and the risk level remains EXTREMELY HIGH. You need to continue or start being Covid-Careful.

The new variants of the Covid virus making up this third wave have evolved to avoid any immunity you may have from vaccination or having caught Covid-19 before. Even if you are fully vaccinated, or have had Covid-19 before, you are still vulnerable to catching it again. Every time you catch Covid-19 increases your chances of being very ill or developing Long Covid, so it is IMPORTANT to protect yourself now, even if you haven’t been Covid-Careful up until now.  

Our advice is to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions may save you and your family from serious illness or possibly long-term disability.

WORRYING news, as Bucks sees a massive 44% increase in Covid-19 infections in only a week. The next wave of Covid-19 is arriving much quicker than expected, and BuDS has raised the risk level back up to EXTREMELY HIGH. 1 in every 39 people in Bucks had Covid-19 as of 11 June, and the risk is almost certainly even higher today.

Even if you have had Covid-19 recently, you can still catch it again. Having had Covid-19 before is only weak protection against the new variants making up this wave. Even vaccination will not prevent you from being seriously ill at home if you catch one of these new variants. Unless you want to take the gamble of being infected or reinfected with Covid-19, you need to start being Covid-Cautious.

Our advice is to wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. These simple precautions may save you and your family from serious illness or possibly long-term disability.

Last week, we reported the end of Omicron BA.2 wave that has caused so much illness and death in the UK in May. This week, we are sadly reporting the START of the NEXT WAVE, made up of new Omicron variants including BA.5.

The number of infected people is now going up all over the UK. Here in Bucks, we now have 1 in every 61 people infected with Covid-19. This means the risk of catching Covid when out and about in Bucks continues to be VERY HIGH.

With cases on the upturn, BuDS urges everyone to be Covid-Cautious and keep taking sensible precautions against catching Covid-19. To repeat: the chances of coming across a person with Covid in your everyday life is VERY HIGH. Wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends. BuDS will continue to update you every week.

This week, we are not able to give you any update about the Covid-19 pandemic in Bucks. The Office for National Statistics (ONS), who provide the data we use, have decided not to publish any regional data for the last week, and instead to publish a fortnightly update on Friday 10 June.

Nationally, the number of people infected with Covid-19 is continuing to slowly decline. Bucks is usually slightly worse than the national average, so we are predicting either a standstill or a slight decline in infection rates in Bucks. However, even with a small decline, the risk of catching Covid when out and about in Bucks is still VERY HIGH.

BuDS still urges everyone to be Covid-Cautious and keep taking sensible precautions against catching Covid-19. To repeat: the chances of coming across a person with Covid in your everyday life is still VERY HIGH. Wear a FFP2 or N95 filter mask in public places, breathe clean air, avoid crowds and busy places, work from home if you can, and protect your older and vulnerable relatives and friends.

BuDS will let continue to keep you up to date every week.