Related articles in Covid-19

1 in 253 people in England likely now infected. Covid infection levels remain static this week. Moderately High risk of meeting someone with Covid.

Covid-19 Risk Assessment: Week Ending 12 January 2025

After a small rise last week, Covid infection levels in England have remained static this week. The risk of meeting a Covid-infected person in England remains Moderately High, with 1 in every 253 people infected as of 12 January. Thankfully, influenza infections are now past the peak of last week, but still remain very high.

As a statistical example of the current risk of catching Covid, a typical busy supermarket will have 1 or 2 infected people breathing out virus for you to breathe in. A typical full single decker bus will have an infected person breathing out virus every 3 or 4 journeys. There will be an infected person breathing out virus in most busy train carriages. If you work in a large, air-conditioned office or warehouse/factory without air purification, there will be at least 2 infected people.

We are still anticipating a large wave of Covid infections in England over the next few months. Although there does not seem to be a new variant which will cause a sudden peak through new infections, people who caught Covid last autumn are now starting to lose their temporary immunity.  As a result, we will see Covid infections start to creep up again. Remember, there is no such thing as lasting or ‘herd’ immunity to a fast-evolving coronavirus like Covid-19, so repeated waves of infection are inevitable unless we clean the air that people breathe.

There are three ways to breathe clean air. The first is to breathe fresh outdoor air which does not contain enough virus to infect someone. This can be achieved by either being outdoors, or bringing fresh outdoor air into indoor spaces by excellent ventilation. The second is to clean or purify indoor air by using a HEPA filter or UV purifier. These devices remove viruses from the air that people breathe. The third way to breathe clean air is to wear a protective respiratory mask as personal protective equipment (PPE). A well-fitted respiratory mask, rated FFP2 or FFP3, removes viruses from the air passing through the mask, so that what you breathe is clean.

BuDS wants to see clean air legislation which protects everyone by requiring clean air in all public buildings. This should be no more controversial than the way we all expect clean water in our taps. If you’d like to learn more about BuDS’ vision for a Covid-free future, use this link.

This is BuDS’ 210th Covid risk assessment since the beginning of the pandemic, and we are now the only organisation publishing free risk data for disabled and clinically vulnerable people.

Covid and flu vaccinations can no longer be booked online, but you may be able to get a free NHS vaccination through your GP. We strongly recommend that everyone, but particularly disabled and clinically vulnerable people, seek a vaccination. Covid and flu vaccinations are also available privately online and through larger pharmacies. Remember to wear a close-fitting respiratory mask (FFP2 or FFP3) when you have the jab – doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies are extremely high risk for catching Covid.

Remember: Covid and flu are airborne. An infected person in an unventilated place creates a large invisible cloud of virus which hangs in the air like smoke, ready for you to breathe in. BuDS strongly recommends that disabled and clinically vulnerable people avoid public transport and indoor spaces unless they are wearing a filter mask (FFP2/3) or respirator. For more advice, use this link.

Hospitals and GP practices are extremely dangerous places to catch Covid and influenza, because there are no Covid precautions in NHS buildings. NHS staff are also required to work even if they have Covid. Unless your visit is essential, we recommend that you avoid hospitals and GP practices, and wear a tight-fitted filter mask (FFP2 or FFP3) or respirator all the time if you have to go there.

Our free Covid Information Substack has been read nearly 1,700 times in the last month. If you’d like to get our weekly Covid risk assessments direct to your email inbox, completely free of charge, you can subscribe here.

To understand more about our Covid risk levels and what they mean, use this link.

For more Covid information and help, please contact BuDS and we will be happy to help.