This week's PHE surveillance report, 26th April - 2nd May
- despite easing of social restrictions & schools returning after Easter hols, case numbers still going down among all ages.
- still regional/local variation
- and ++concerns around variants.🧵
gov.uk/government/sta…
Still some big differences by region - particularly looking at younger adults in Yorkshire and Humber.
Case rates in Y&H are 42/100,000, more than 3 times the rates in the SW at just 12/100,000.
This is even more apparent when looking at data by local authority.
Although some positive news as some of the differences by ethnicity and deprivation may be beginning to narrow.
In terms of incidents/outbreaks reported to PHE.
Still as low as ever for care homes and hospitals.
And a small increase in edu settings, as would be expected.
The next ONS surveillance data update will provide a little more clarity on if this is translating into meaningful increases in cases among children/young adults.
No surprises in the morbidity and mortality data, remaining as comforting as it has been in a while.
And while overall vaccine uptake remains impressive...
It masks some major differences by ethnicity, with nearly twice the percentage of people aged over 50 who are White having had two doses of the vaccine compared with those who are Black.
So much work still to be done here.
In general it all looks pretty rosy for the gov road map review in advance of 17th May.
EXCEPT for the rapidly growing concerns about variants, particularly B.1.617 (first detected in India)
theguardian.com/world/2021/may…
The road map decisions are based on four tests.
While things look good for the first three, the fourth is less clear. Tomorrow's update of variant data looks increasingly important.
In particular, it makes the idea of opening things further for international travel seem particularly risky.
Plus it reinforces the basics of ensuring that everyone can get tested, and has the necessary support and means to isolate.
This includes tackling ongoing structural issues like insecure work/multiple occupancy HHs. + giving local gov & health protection teams the resource, flexibility, & support they need to manage.
It'll help places with ongoing high cases AND slow local spread of variants.
PHE surveil rpt☝️ @felly500 @deb_cohen @martinmckee @carolecadwalla @mgtmccartney @ADPHUK @Jeanelleuk @fascinatorfun @profchrisham @petermbenglish @HPIAndyCowper @Davewwest @HSJEditor @KateAlvanley @IndependentSage @nedwards_1 @SamanthaJonesUK @ewanbirney @FurberA @Dr_D_Robertson
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.