229 new deaths due to Covid-19 and 178,250 new coronavirus infections reported in 24 hours. Meanwhile, there were 1,260,535 reported Covid-19 infections in 7 days, and the UK government continues with its plan โ aware of the increasing number of infections and their negative impact on services across the UK.
First published in January 2022.
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Note: UK data (including the data noted below) will not necessarily fully reflect the numbers in specific measures. where there are data issues, e.g. delays due to IT issues, or reporting arrangements for the four nations.
- 178,250 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours โ the actual number UK-wide is potentially higher.
- The total number of coronavirus infections 'reported' across the UK in the last 7 days was 1,260,535, while in the last 28 days 3,496,877 infections have been reported [highest 28-day number ever recorded].
- 1,120 deaths due to coronavirus have been reported in the last 7 days.
- The number of deaths in the past week equates on average to around 160 deaths each of the past 7 days. If this was to be the โnew normalโ for daily deaths caused by Covid-19, then annually this would equate to around 58,400 deaths across the UK.
- Meanwhile, 3,491 deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported across the UK in the last 28 days.
- 2,434 Covid-19 hospital admissions occurred on 3 January 2022.
- 18,454 patients suffering from Covid-19 are currently occupying hospital beds according to the latest dashboard data โ the highest number since 18 February 2021.
- 868 Covid-19 patients are occupying mechanical ventilation beds โ according to the data reported on 6 January 2022.
- All three of these healthcare measures remain a continuing concern for our now seriously under-pressure NHS.
๐จ 1,300,000 cases
๐จ 1 in 51 people currently live with long COVID
SO FAR:
- 708 days since the first infection due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus was reported in Britain (31 January 2020).
- 672 days since the first reported death (7 March 2020). Coronavirus has now been responsible for infecting over 14 million people in England (according to the official reported positive cases data).
- In this time, the virus has been responsible for at least 149,744 deaths (within 28 days of a first positive test result). Official data also currently indicate there have been 173,248 deaths in total, where the deceased personโs death certificate mentioned COVID-19 as one of the causes, registered up to Friday 24 December 2021, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

Note: The data for deaths attributed to COVID-19 โ each following a reported positive test result for COVID-19 within 28 days of their death.
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)

ENGLAND
- 11 January
If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, most people will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate immediately if you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result.
- 9 January
From 4am on 9 January, if you qualify as fully vaccinated, you can take either a rapid lateral flow or PCR test within 2 days of arriving in England. If you have a positive result on the rapid lateral flow test, you must take a PCR test.
- 7 January
From 4am on 7 January, if you qualify as fully vaccinated or are under 18, you do not need to take a PCR test before you travel to England or self-isolate when you arrive.
- 4 January
Face coverings are recommended in schools with pupils in year 7 and above. They should be worn in most classrooms, and by pupils, students, staff and adult visitors when moving around buildings.
WALES
- 6 January
If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, most people will not need to take a PCR test to confirm the result. You must self-isolate immediately if you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result.
- 31 December
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 must self-isolate for 7 full days. On days 6 and 7 they should take rapid lateral flow tests 24 hours apart. If the results are positive, they should continue to self-isolate until they get 2 negative tests, or after day 10, whichever is sooner. If they are negative they can stop self-isolating. Find out more about self-isolation on GOV.WALES.
- 26 December
Wales is at alert level 2. A maximum of 6 people can meet in venues such as pubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres (โrule of 6โ), 30 people at indoor events and 50 people at outdoor events. 2-metre social distancing is required in public premises and offices. Nightclubs are closed. Find out more on GOV.WALES.
SCOTLAND
- 27 December
Up to 3 households can meet with 1-metre physical distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues like bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service will be needed if alcohol is being served.
- 26 December
Large events will have 1-metre physical distancing and will be limited to 100 people standing indoors, 200 people sitting indoors and 500 people outdoors.
NORTHERN IRELAND
- 5 January
If you get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, you should isolate immediately. You no longer need to book a PCR test.
- 31 December
People who test positive for COVID-19 should isolate for 10 days from their PCR test date or when symptoms started, whichever is sooner. People can end self-isolation early if they get two negative rapid lateral flow tests โ one from day 6 and the second at least 24 hours later.
- 27 December
You should reduce social contact as much as possible by meeting in groups of no more than 3 households.
Up to 6 people can meet in pubs, bars and restaurants, or up to 10 people if theyโre all from the same household. Only table service is available.
2-metre social distancing is required in public premises and offices. Find out more about changes in Northern Ireland.
- 26 December
Indoor standing events are not permitted. Nightclubs are closed.
(Source: Gov.uk)

- Young adults have highest coronavirus infection levels
According to the ONS, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 in the week ending 31 December 2021 was highest in young adults.
In the disappearing days of 2021, the percentage of people testing positive for the virus continued to increase across all age groups.
But those in school Year 12 to those aged 24 years (8.34%) followed by those aged 25 to 34 years (7.83%), showed the highest percentages for the week ending 31 December 2021.
For people in school Year 7 to school Year 11 and groups aged between 25 and 49 years, the trend in the percentage testing positive was uncertain in the last few days of 2021.
(Source: Office for National Statistics)

Uncertainty remains about #Omicron and why it may be causing less severe disease, let science do its job. What's clear, is that hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed by the sheer number of cases. 'Less severe' recognises reality, 'mild' is politically motivated mumbo jumbo.
— Dr Joe Pajak FRSC CSci ๐ NHS FT Governor (@JoePajak) January 7, 2022
๐จ843 children hospitalized in England๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ in the last 7 days โผ๏ธ
— Ing. Antonio Caramia (@Antonio_Caramia) January 7, 2022
๐จThe worst figure so farโผ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/58GGx87suq
Just spoke to head where it's currently snowing. Because of ventilation, they've got windows open. Pupils have coats on "but it's just not great". Harder to learn in a "classrom that is like the Baltics".
— Will Hazell (@whazell) January 7, 2022
Vivid eg of what schools are dealing with as they wait for air purifiers.
Our new paper on quantifying the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions.
— Trisha Greenhalgh (@trishgreenhalgh) January 6, 2022
Picture shows risks for Omicron variant at 1% prevalence (lower than currently in US & UK). TL;DR: avoid the gym, choir practice & stuffy nightclub.https://t.co/LmUXA0Cq8w pic.twitter.com/2rDpf0Xcoy
Can anyone explain why โฆ@sajidjavidโฉ is wearing an FFP2 mask when most of the rest of the NHS is issued with masks that provide less protection.
— Roy Lilley ๐ (@RoyLilley) January 7, 2022
Front-line-lives-matter, too. โฆ@trishgreenhalghโฉ โฆ@CNOEnglandโฉ pic.twitter.com/iGKG28t3H5









โ ๐งฌ COG-UK sequencing
(Source: COG-UK)
โ ๐งฌ UKHSA genomically confirmed case numbers
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)

๐ UK COVID-19 data

Data up to 7 January 2022.
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)
โ ๐งฎ Case & Death Totals
๐ฆ 14,193,228 positive cases so far to date (recorded) โ Since the first case was reported at the end of January 2020
๐ฏ๏ธ 149,744 deaths so far โ Number recorded within 28 days of first positive test result
๐ฏ๏ธ 173,248 total deaths โ Total number of people whose death certificate mentioned Covid-19 as one of the causesโ Registered up to Friday 24 December 2021

๐ Vaccination UK
(Source: UK Health Security Agency + Public Health Wales
+ Public Health Scotland + HSC NI + ONS)
Note: Data cross-referenced with the latest official data from the UK dashboard.

โ Estimated ยฎ๏ธ Number
(Sources: UK Health Security Agency + Welsh Government
+ Scottish Government + N-I Ministry of Health)
โ Population Testing Positive for COVID-19
(Source: ONS)
โ Number of contact tracing alerts sent (England & Wales)
(Source: NHS)
โ Stringency Index
(Source: University of Oxford)

๐ Data Sources:
- Daily summary: Coronavirus in the UK | UK Government
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) NHS Advice | PMP Magazine
- Variants: distribution of cases data | UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- Vaccination Data | UK Government
- Whatโs new | UK Government
|
๐ Full Daily UK #COVID19 Charts & Comments via #TodayInCovid: www.pmp-magazine.com/tag/today-in-covid/
๐ฆ Everything #COVID19: www.pmp-magazine.com/covid19/
๐๏ธ Sources: @CovidGenomicsUK | @UKHSA | @ONS
๐งฎ Special thanks: @JoePajak & #NHS
โ AUTHORS โโซ Dr Joe Pajak, PhD in physical chemistry: exploring the data, governor of an NHS FT hospital. |
GET THEM INVOLVED: |
Sources
- Text: This piece was first published in PMP Magazine on 7 January 2022. | The authors write in a personal capacity.
- Data cross-referenced with the latest official data from the UK dashboard.
- Cover: Adobe Stock/SergeyBitos.
- Icons from www.flaticon.com