COVID sitrep: We are now fairly confident we have passed the high water-mark for this latest wave in the UK. Both infection rates and hospital admissions in decline. Good news but the NHS faces several competing major challenges as we look towards another difficult winter. 1/8
The daily number of COVID infections is consistently falling, and now the number of patients admitted to hospital each day with COVID-19 is on a downward trend as well. 2/8
Meanwhile, admissions to Intensive Care with COVID seem to be levelling off and possibly even beginning to fall as well. The national picture fits with what colleagues are seeing in hospitals around the UK. 3/8
Passing the peak is an important moment in the NHS response to each wave. Once we know we are past the worst, we can stop planning for extra COVID capacity, we can re-focus on the patients we have, and all the other ‘routine’ NHS work. This makes a big difference. 4/8
We have seen regional variations throughout the pandemic and there are still a few infection hotspots around. What this map doesn’t show is the NHS COVID workload which is currently worst in the North of England. 5/8
The bad news is that current wave of hospital admissions will keep us busy through to October (only 8 weeks away now), and will then combine with other problems to create what we expect to be another major winter crisis for the NHS. 6/8
acmedsci.ac.uk/more/news/wint…
Along with COVID, NHS hospitals are seeing a huge number of attendances at Emergency Depts, and an epidemic of childhood viral infections usually seen in winter. All while we try to get back to business as usual and clear a huge backlog of surgeries amongst other tasks. 7/8
Heading into winter, flu vaccination will be important for people at greater risk and for NHS staff. COVID vaccination remains vital and we can expect plans for booster doses soon. Meanwhile, keep up the good work with #HandsFaceSpace & fresh air. #StaySafe - it's not over. 💙8/8
Worth noting the global picture too. Infections rising at global level which is why we cannot relax. Data from @WHO.
...and the map showing where things are worst.
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