Articles in Covid-19

1 in 136 people in England likely now infected. Summer Covid wave continuing Risk of meeting someone with Covid remains High

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 19 May 2024 – Updated

The Summer Wave of Covid continues, with infection levels remaining HIGH. Using the latest available data, we estimate that around 1 in 136 people in England are infected with Covid as of 19 May. See below for more on how we calculated this.

At the moment, there is a mismatch between the available data about Covid levels and people’s reported experience of Covid (anecdotal data). While the data suggests a High level (between 1 in 100 and 1 in 200 infected people), the anecdotal data suggests a Very High level (between 1 in 50 and 1 in 100 infected people). One mathematical model suggests that infection levels could be Extremely High (1 in 25 to 1 in 50 infected people). Our advice to disabled and clinically vulnerable people is to assume that Covid levels may be higher than the data suggests. Taking precautions as if the risk was higher will protect you, even if the risk happens to be lower.

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An image of 5 black chickens in a grassy field

Bird Flu – What You Need To Know

There has been a lot in the media recently about bird flu or the H5N1 virus. What is bird flu? Do you need to worry? What precautions should you be taking now? BuDS has looked at the latest news and World Health Organisation (WHO) information and guidance to answer all these questions and more.

Read on for more.

This post was updated on 5 May 2024 to cover new information.

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1 in 200 people in England likely now infected. New Covid wave coming in May/June Risk of meeting someone with Covid remains High

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 21 April 2024

A new Covid wave is probably coming in England. That’s our tentative view after looking at all the available data. At the moment, Covid levels appear to be remaining roughly the same, and the risk of meeting a Covid-infected person in your everyday life remains HIGH. Everyone still needs to continue to take precautions to avoid catching Covid, because Covid has not gone away. Around 1 in 200 people in England are infected with Covid, as of 21 April. See below for more on how we calculated this.

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1 in 200 people in England likely now infected. 2 infected people in a busy supermarket. Risk of meeting someone with Covid remains High

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 7 April 2024

Covid infection levels in England seem to be remaining roughly the same, and the risk of meeting a Covid-infected person in your everyday life remains HIGH. Everyone still needs to continue to take precautions to avoid catching Covid, because Covid has not gone away. Around 1 in 200 people in England are infected with Covid, as of 7 April. See below for more on how we calculated this.

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1 in 158 people in England likely now infected. 2 infected people in a busy supermarket. Risk of meeting someone with Covid is High

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 25 March 2024

Covid infection levels in England have stopped reducing, and seem to be remaining roughly the same. The risk of meeting a Covid-infected person in your everyday life remains HIGH. Everyone still needs to continue to take precautions to avoid catching Covid, because Covid has not gone away. Around 1 in 158 people in England are infected with Covid, as of 17 March. See below for more on how we calculated this.

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1 in 85 people in England probably now infected. 4 infected people in a busy supermarket. Risk of meeting someone with Covid remains Very High

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 19 February 2024

It is safest to assume that Covid infection levels in England are roughly the same as last week – Covid is NOT declining to a low level. The available data is unclear, but it is certainly safe to say that the risk remains Very High. Everyone needs to continue to take precautions to avoid catching Covid. There are different estimates available, but we are working on the basis that around 1 in 85 people in England are infected with Covid as of 19 February. See below for more on how we calculated this.

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1 in 63 people in England likely now infected. 5 infected people in a busy supermarket. Risk of meeting someone with Covid is Very High

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 12 February 2024

Covid infection levels in England are probably staying at roughly the same level – Covid is NOT declining to a low level. The risk remains Very High, and everyone needs to continue to take precautions to avoid catching Covid. There are different estimates available, but we feel that between 1 in 63 and 1 in 70 people are infected with Covid as of 12 February. See below for more on how we calculated this.

As an example of the current risk of catching Covid, a typical busy supermarket will have around 5 infected people breathing out virus for you to breathe in. In a full single decker bus, there will be around 1 infected person breathing out virus. In a busy train carriage, there will be around 3 infected people breathing out virus. In these circumstances, unless you wear a respiratory filter mask, you are very likely to catch Covid. Cloth and surgical masks do not protect you.

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