Today's @PHE_uk report with data to 20/09, shows continued rising positivity rates for pillar 1 (hospital/outbreaks, now 2%), and pillar 2 (community - now 5%).
This is inline with T&T data to 16/09 published yesterday
Still can't infer much from these data because of difficulties accessing tests, but the pillar 1 and 2 testing data match ONS, with increases continuing among 20-29y/o.
Note also though case rate rises in 30-59y/o age gps.
This is supported by ⬆️in positivity for these age gps, note really big ⬆️ positivity among age 60+. Esp as case numbers pick up.
pillar 1 positivity rates for 20-29y/o age gp may be low numbers being tested, or key worker staff, or P1 labs providing P2 cover in some setttings
NW and NE really stand out, with West Mids as well. But that masks some significant variation at sub-regional level
The surveillance data continues to highly impact on inequalities by both ethnicity and socioeconomic gp.
Although note less socioeconomic gradient for 17-19yrs, perhaps college/uni playing a role.
Plus these data don't consider any inequalities in accessing limited tests.
And here can see incidents still dominated by educational settings and care homes (but good to see fewer care homes than last week).
and in terms of where people may have picked up the virus, this graph on data b/w 10th August and 24th Sept won't tell you what causes their infection, but eating out (eat out to help out...) doesn't cover itself in glory.
And as we know, hospital and ICU admissions are really climbing.
Steep climbs inICU admissions in Midlands, NE and London are really concerning, and they're really impacting the 65-85y/o age gp.
and COVID death numbers are rising, although no signal (yet) on excess mortality.
Please keep trying to get a test if you have symptoms (& isolate with your household while you do), download the app if you can, isolate if you're asked to, wear a mask, wash hands, socially distance, & get help/support from your local authority if you need it.
Gov data shows how price promos are more likely to be applied to unhealthy junk food rather than healthier foods.
And rather than saving people ££, they can lead to around 22% *more* purchases than would otherwise happen, with *more* money spent and *more* consumption.
That's why companies use these promotions.
That's also why the policy was in the obesity strategy in the first place. The irony being that it is more likely to help than hinder the impact of the cost of living crisis on individuals and families.
In today's @Telegraph, Sally O'Brien & I discuss @HealthFdn / @IpsosUK polling results on public attitudes to gov policy on alcohol, tobacco, & unhealthy food (no £-wall🔓)
🧵Tl,dr: While gov has a preference for individual responsibility, the public still think gov should act.
Gains in healthy life-expectancy have stalled, childhood obesity continues to rise, alcohol-related hospital admissions are up, and tobacco still causes over 500,000 admissions a year.
And there are huge inequalities with more deprived areas disproportionately impacted.
Yet the recent trend of unwinding public health policy continues.
The tobacco control plan is unpublished, junk food ad bans have been delayed, plans for a national approach to health inequalities have gone & there's been nothing on alcohol since 2012.
First the good news. COVID cases in hospital clearly falling, in all ages, regions (except perhaps still plateauing in Yorkshire and Humber).
There's still a lag on cases in intensive care and on deaths, but they'll drop soon as well.
Flu, however, seems to be on the rise.
Overall case & admission rates are relatively low, but trending up.
And with a higher % of lab respiratory samples (sent in by dr from people with chest symptoms) testing for flu than at the same time in the past 5 yrs. i.e., it's early
This is a really helpful and timely piece of work by @davidfinchthf.
Along with last week's @TheIFS report on how government ££ are spent, it's clear that we need to do more to align public health funding with local needs. 🧵
Over the last decade, gains in life expectancy in England have stalled.
And it will be no surprise that the impact has not been felt evenly by everyone.
While life expectancy continues to increase for people living in the least deprived parts of the country, people from the most deprived communities are dying earlier.
This type of shortsighted policy review has reared its head again.
Health is an *asset* & the types of obesity policies being looked at here are exactly the ones that are both most effective AND most likely to narrow inequalities. 🧵