Articles in Covid-19

Covid levels in England jump by a third. Risk level rises to Moderate at 1 in 857. Full precautions needed in all but moderate & low risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 30 August 2026

Covid infection levels in England have jumped by a third this week, and we have raised the BuDS overall Covid risk level to Moderate. With 1 in every 857 people in England infected as of 30 August, we now recommend precautions including PPE masks in all but medium and low risk indoor places.

Other respiratory viruses, including flu, remain at low levels but are rising as we move into the autumn.

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Covid levels in England stabilise. Risk level remains Moderately Low at 1 in 1120. Full precautions needed in higher risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 23 August 2026

Covid infection levels in England have stabilised after recent increases. Infection levels remain historically lower, with 1 in every 1120 people in England now infected as of 23 August. The BuDS overall risk level remains Moderately Low.

Other respiratory viruses, including flu, remain at low levels but are rising as we move into the autumn. Precautions against catching Covid remain sensible and proportionate in some indoor areas, but levels are still sufficiently low for them not to be needed in all indoor places.

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Covid levels in England continue to rise. Risk level remains Moderately Low at 1 in 1120. Precautions advice upgraded again.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 16 August 2026

Covid infection levels in England continue to rise, according to the latest data, and we have once again upgraded our advice about the precautions that are appropriate in different places in response to the greater infection risk.  

That said, infection levels remain historically lower, with 1 in every 1120 people in England now infected as of 16 August. The BuDS overall risk level remains Moderately Low but is likely to rise to Moderate soon. Other respiratory viruses, including flu, remain at low levels but are also showing signs of a rise. It remains sensible and proportionate to take more precautions in some places now, but there is no need for alarm.  

This update replaces the one issued on 19 August. That update included data only to 9 August, but this one uses the latest data to 16 August. Hopefully the NHS will resume its normal cycle of weekly data reporting as the holiday season ends.

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Risk level remains Low at 1 in 2427. No significant increase in Covid levels. Precautions still needed in highest risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 26 July 2026

Covid infection levels in England have again very slightly increased, but this bump is not significant in terms of the infection risk. The BuDS Covid infection risk level remains Low, with 1 in every 2427 people in England now infected as of 26 July. Other respiratory viruses are also at very low levels, but again there has been a very slight rise.

No Sign of a Covid Wave in England

Covid infection levels in England have bumped a little higher over the last few weeks. We continue to feel that these increases mark the end of a trough of exceptionally low levels. We do not think the data yet shows a substantive rise in Covid infection levels in England, and we see no sign of a Covid wave in any of the available data.

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Risk level remains Low at 1 in 2564. Slight but not significant increases in Covid levels. Advice around precautions unchanged.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 19 July 2026

Covid infection levels in England have again slightly increased, but the risk remains historically low. The BuDS Covid infection risk level remains Low, with 1 in every 2564 people in England now infected as of 19 July. Other respiratory viruses are also at very low levels, but again there has been a very slight rise.

No Sign of a Covid Wave in England

Covid infection levels in England have bumped a little higher over the last three weeks. However, that increase followed a period of historically very low levels. BuDS’ view remains that England has come to the end of a trough of exceptionally low levels. We do not think the data yet shows a substantive rise in Covid infection levels in England.

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Risk level remains Low at 1 in 2912. Likely to reduce risk level to Very Low soon. Precautions only needed in highest-risk places.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 28 June 2026

Covid infection levels in England have fallen again, now for the seventh consecutive week. The Covid risk level remains Low, with 1 in every 2912 people in England now infected. Other respiratory viruses are also at very low levels.

If these trends continue, BuDS will lower the overall Covid risk level for England to Very Low (less than 1 in every 3000 people infected) in the next couple of weeks. This is the lowest risk level on our scale.

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