359 new deaths due to Covid-19 reported in 24 hours, and 108,069 new infections reported in 24 hours. In the past 28 days there have been 5,300 reported deaths due to Covid-19 – the highest 28-day total since 20 March 2021.
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.
- 359 deaths due to coronavirus have been reported in the last 24 hours.
- 108,069 new coronavirus infections in 24 hours – the actual number UK-wide is potentially higher.
- The total number of coronavirus infections reported across the UK in the last 7 days was 652,469, while in the last 28 days 3,887,280 infections have been reported.
- 1,865 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 266 deaths each of the past 7 days. If this was to be the “new normal” for daily deaths caused by Covid-19, then annually this would equate to around 97,246 deaths across the UK.
- Meanwhile, 5,300 deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported across the UK in the last 28 days - the highest number of 28-day deaths since 20 March 2021.
- 1,752 Covid-19 hospital admissions occurred on 15 January 2022.
- 18,979 patients suffering from Covid-19 are currently occupying hospital beds according to the latest dashboard data.
- 703 Covid-19 patients are occupying mechanical ventilation beds – according to the data reported on 18 January 2022.
- All three of these healthcare measures a continuing concern for our now seriously under-pressure NHS.
🚨 1,300,000 cases
🚨 1 in 51 people currently live with long COVID
SO FAR:
- 720 days since the first infection due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus was reported in Britain (31 January 2020).
- 684 days since the first reported death (7 March 2020). Coronavirus has now been responsible for infecting over 15.5 million people in England (according to the official reported positive cases data).
- In this time, the virus has been responsible for at least 152,872 deaths (within 28 days of a first positive test result). Official data also currently indicate there have been 174,233 deaths in total, where the deceased person’s death certificate mentioned COVID-19 as one of the causes, registered up to Friday 31 December 2021, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

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

ENGLAND
- 27 January
You will not be required to wear a face covering, including in communal areas of schools, but the government suggests you continue to wear one in crowded and indoor spaces where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet.
You’ll no longer need to show your NHS COVID Pass at venues and events by law.
- 20 January
Staff and pupils in secondary schools and colleges will not be required to wear a face-covering in classrooms.
- 19 January
You are no longer asked to work from home if you can. Talk to your employer to agree on arrangements to return to your workplace.
- 17 January
16 and 17-year-olds can now book a booster dose online. Parents and guardians of people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 between 12 to 15 years old, or those living with people at higher risk, will also be contacted to book a booster.
You can stop self-isolating at the start of day 6 if you get 2 negative rapid lateral flow test results on days 5 and 6 and do not have a temperature. Tests must be at least 24 hours apart. If either test is positive, wait 24 hours before testing again.
WALES
- 28 January
There will be no limits on how many people can meet indoors at pubs, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. Nightclubs will reopen.
- 21 January
Sporting events can have crowds, with no limits on how many people can attend outdoor events.
- 15 January
Up to 500 people can attend outdoor events.
- 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.
SCOTLAND
- 24 January
There will be no limits on how many households can meet indoors or outdoors. There will be no need for physical distancing between groups at indoor and outdoor venues including bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and gyms. Table service will not be needed.
- 17 January
Most people will need to have had a booster dose to be recognised as fully vaccinated under the COVID certification scheme.
Restrictions on numbers at outdoor events are lifted. Indoor events remain limited to 100 people standing and 200 people sitting. The COVID certification scheme must be used for both outdoor and indoor events.
- 6 January
If you are a close contact of someone with COVID–19 and you are fully vaccinated along with your booster dose, you can take daily rapid lateral flow tests for 7 days instead of self-isolating. If you test positive or develop symptoms during this time you should self-isolate for 10 days.
If you test positive for COVID-19 you should self-isolate for 10 days. You can end self-isolation early if you do not have a high temperature and get 2 negative lateral flow test results on days 6 and 7, taken at least 24 hours apart.
If you do not have symptoms and get a positive rapid lateral flow test result, you must self-isolate. You do not need to take a PCR test to confirm your result.
- 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.
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 – 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 they’re 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.
UK GOVERNMENT’S LATEST SELF-ISOLATION GUIDANCE
When to end self-isolation if you have had COVID-19 symptoms, have received a positive COVID-19 test result, or if you are a contact.

UKHSA Guidance | PMP
(Source: Gov.uk)

- Percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased in England, Wales and Scotland
The ONS published its estimates for the week ending 15 January 2022.
- In England, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) decreased in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 2,984,200 people in England had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 2,886,900 to 3,077,300), equating to around 1 in 20 people.
- In Wales, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 112,100 people in Wales had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 95,200 to 128,700), equating to around 1 in 25 people.
- In Northern Ireland, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased in the two weeks up to 15 January 2022, but the trend was uncertain in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 104,300 people in Northern Ireland had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 89,300 to 120,600), equating to around 1 in 20 people.
- In Scotland, the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 decreased in the week ending 15 January 2022; we estimate that 236,600 people in Scotland had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 212,000 to 263,100), equating to around 1 in 20 people.
- In England, the percentage of people testing positive decreased in all age groups in the most recent week, except those aged 2 years to school Year 6 where the percentage of people testing positive increased in the most recent week.
- COVID-19 infections decreased in all regions in the most recent week except in the North East and the South West, where the trend was uncertain.
- Omicron variant compatible infections continue to be dominant across all UK countries.
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(Source: Office for National Statistics)

"The Prime Minister’s decision to loosen the restrictions may have relieved the pressure from his backbenchers but will do nothing to relieve the pressure on the NHS," says @theRCN, responding to the lifting of Plan B COVID-19 restrictions https://t.co/YhYiKRSD04
— RCN Press Office (@RCN_Press) January 19, 2022
Child cases yet again on the up. They were 14.7% of all English cases on the 1st January & have climbed considerably since to 40.8% of cases today. Adult cases maybe falling which will have some effect but over 30k child cases in one day is huge. Young unvaxxed seeing the most.
— Tigress (@TigressEllie) January 17, 2022

“Boris Johnson announced today the end of all Plan B COVID measures from 26 January 2022, including masks on public transport and shops, work-from-home guidance and vaccine certificates. This flawed decision is deeply concerning and ignores the data and the risks.
“5,300 COVID deaths in 28-days, yet face masks will no longer be required. Based on what SAGE science? Can we see the evidence for this decision, please?
“How can politicians look at these data and be convinced the pandemic is anywhere near the end?
“Meanwhile, the US government is making 400 million non-surgical N95 masks available free of charge!” – Dr Joe Pajak.











■ 🧬 COG-UK sequencing
(Source: COG-UK)
■ 🧬 UKHSA genomically confirmed case numbers
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)

📈 UK COVID-19 data

Data up to 19 January 2022.
(Source: UK Health Security Agency)
■ 🧮 Case & Death Totals
🦠 15,506,750 positive cases so far to date (recorded) – Since the first case was reported at the end of January 2020
🕯️152,872 deaths so far – Number recorded within 28 days of first positive test result
🕯️ 174,233 total deaths – Total number of people whose death certificate mentioned Covid-19 as one of the causes – Registered up to Friday 31 December 2021
🕯️ 44,738 care home residents have had COVID-19 recorded on their death certificate since the pandemic began – ONS data

💉 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.

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

What did you think of this article?
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📚 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
- What’s new | UK Government
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📈 Full Daily UK #COVID19 Charts & Comments via #TodayInCovid: www.pmp-magazine.com/tag/today-in-covid/
🦠 Everything #COVID19: www.pmp-magazine.com/covid19/
🗃️ Sources: @CovidGenomicsUK | @UKHSA | @ONS
🧮 Special thanks: @JoePajak & #NHS
— AUTHORS —▫ 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 19 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