Britain’s daily Covid cases rose by another 10 per cent in a week today and deaths ticked upwards — but hospitalisations plunged 17 per cent.
According to government dashboard data, 44,242 infected persons were reported within the past 24 hours. That’s a small increase from last Friday’s 40,375.
Since November 11, all covid cases except one have risen every day. Official data indicates that infections in both children and their parents are on the rise following half-term’s return to schools.
Health chiefs also reported another 157 Covid death, an 8 per cent increase over the week before.
The latest hospitalisation statistics showed that 827 patients were admitted to the hospital on November 15. This was 17 percent less than seven days ago.
The Office for National Statistics weekly surveillance report indicated that England’s Covid case count dropped by 10 percent last week. The report, based on random swab tests done by thousands of Britons, estimated 824,900 people were infected on any day in the week ending November 13, the equivalent to one in 65 people. It was slightly lower than the previous figure of 925,400.
In a sign that the slowdown in infections is over, top No10 scientists today said the R rate was stable at 0.8-1.0.
A slew yesterday of reports suggested that children have been experiencing an increase in infections since they were allowed to return from half-term.
Austria announced today a lockdown, making compulsory Covid vaccinations for all residents. This is amid the Covid wave spreading across Europe.
At a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson acknowledged that the extreme action wasn’t completely out of the question and triggered fears about another Christmas lockdown. The Prime Minister stated that England did not need to increase Covid restrictions.
He encouraged people to obtain their booster vaccinations, and warned them about Europe’s spiralling crises. Austria became the first country in Europe to institute another lockdown.
Top experts believe that Britain will not be forced to cancel Christmas due to the rising concerns about the outbreak. A surveillance study that showed cases increasing indicated that one scientist was optimistic festivities can continue without restrictions.

The Office for National Statistics Weekly Surveillance estimated that there had been 824,900 Covid cases within England in the week ending November 13th. This is equivalent to 1 in 65 persons. This is slightly less than the 925,000.400 reported previously.
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19infectionsurveypilot/latest

Austria is one of the most severely affected European countries by Covid. Infections are rising rapidly despite the fact that there have been an increase in cases across the continent. The hardest are generally those who have the lowest rates of vaccination.

While the number of deaths from covids is still low compared to the pandemic’s first and second waves, it has started to increase rapidly since then.

In order to determine the extent of the disease in Britain, the ONS relies upon random sampling of 100,000 Britons per week.
Ministers consider it the best method to track the outbreak in a country, as it does not contain symptomatic carriers.
According to figures, one in five people infected by the virus in Wales was last week. England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland were next at 1 in 65 and 1 in 95, respectively.
Figures showed that cases fell in the 11-16-year-old age group. All other age groups saw no change in infection rates.
The R rate, according to No10’s scientists, was between 0.8-1.0. This is the same week as last week.
They said it was possible for the level to rise as high as 1.01 in London and South East, which could indicate that an epidemic is developing.
R-rate is an indicator that shows how infected individuals are spreading the virus. Because it is calculated, the R rate reflects what was happening on the ground three weeks ago.
The R-value of one is the ratio between 10 and 10 who are infected with the virus.
Yesterday, two surveillance reports showed that Covid cases were also rising among younger people.
King’s College London scientists who monitor symptoms and not tests also estimate that infections dropped 10 percent last week. But, the researchers said they believe cases are trending upwards in under-18s.
The number of cases in the over-75s group was down, but they declined in other age groups.
According to the UK Health Security Agency’s weekly surveillance report, which relies on government testing rates, it was found that over-18s saw an increase in cases last week.
The report indicated that cases rose slightly in the under-70s but declined among older people.
The daily Covid case numbers in Britain are also trending up, with increases among younger people and those aged 50-65.
Prof. Tim Spector is the King’s College researcher and eminent scientist. He said he’s ‘cautiously hopeful’ this Christmas.
He said: ‘In terms of what it means for Christmas, I’m cautiously optimistic for the remainder of the year. It’s becoming clear that children and the school holidays play a key role in the waves of infection.
‘I think it’s safe to say that we can expect to see another rise in the new year after the holidays.’
He still urged Britons to be fully immunized against the disease and get their booster shots. He also urged people to use face masks when they are in crowd areas such as on public transport.
This was a softening in his tone from last month when he joined a chorus of experts calling on ministers to switch to Plan B — bringing back hated face masks, social distancing and work from home guidance.
Worries about another Christmas lockdown were raised this week after Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, admitted at Downing Street’s press conference that drastic action wasn’t completely out of the question. The Prime Minister stated that England did not need to increase Covid restrictions.
He told a Downing Street press conference: ‘Clearly we cannot rule anything out and the most important thing people can do to prevent further NPIs from being taken is to — non-pharmaceutical interventions that is, further restrictions — get the boosters.’


Austria made today the compulsory vaccination of all citizens with Covid and placed a nationwide lockdown.
Alexander Schallenberg, the Chancellor, said that every 8.9million resident will be required to have received two doses of Covid vaccine. Or face ‘penalties.’ As they do not receive jabs, it is presumed that children under 12 are exempted from this requirement.
Everyone will be unable to leave their home starting Monday due to lockdown. All non-essential shops and most schools will also be closed.
Unvaccinated people were previously prohibited from going to work or leaving the house.
66% of Austrians have been vaccinated against this virus. This figure is lower than that of the EU’s 67% average, while the UK has 68% double-jabbed.
The country isn’t alone in making vaccines mandatory. In February Indonesia made it mandatory for all citizens to be vaccinated. Then came the dictatorships of Turkmenistan in March and Tajikistan July. Dozens of other countries, including many western nations, require specific groups — such as healthcare workers — to be fully inoculated.
Schallenberg stated today that there has been a consensus within the country for a while not to make vaccinations compulsory.
“For quite a while, perhaps too long, we believed that vaccination rates could be high even without a requirement. We now have to confront the facts.
“Whipped up radical anti-vaxxers and by fake news too many of us didn’t get vaccinated. “The results of this are overcrowded intensive-care units and great suffering,” he said, accusing those who don’t know the facts of trying to attack the system.
Ireland, who imposed a midnight curfew for hospitality business this week, today put its hospitals on a war footing’. All routine operations have been cancelled to make way for Covid patients. This was in response to a warning by the country’s top doctor, that the hospital’s intensive care team will face difficult decisions about whom to provide care.
Germany’s future Chancellor Olaf Scholz claimed that nearly 30 million shots must be administered by the end of this year to avoid the worst effects. That would more than double the current number of shots the country gives daily.
His speech came just days after Germany had proposed new rules to restrict unvaccinated individuals from states with high rates of hospital admissions.
A new three-tier system will require that people show proof of previous infections or vaccinations to be allowed into public buildings and businesses. This is based upon a seven-day-average. Currently, it will only affect nine of Germany’s 16 countries.

Scientists at King’s College London estimated that 65,059 people had contracted the virus during the week ending November 13. This is a decrease from the 72,546 who were previously infected. It was 10% lower than the previous week.



According to the UK Health Security Agency, Covid cases have been on the rise among younger people and their parents. (pictured above).
It comes as the NHS app is being updated to show proof of booster jabs in a move which could save Christmas travel plans for the elderly and vulnerable.
This will be visible on the Covid travel section, which allows Britons to visit Europe that now requires evidence of a third dose.
While the new feature will initially be limited to travel, it could also make it easier for the UK Government to make the third jab compulsory in domestic circumstances.
Boris Johnson warned on Monday that the concept of full vaccination would need to be adjusted – with a third jab becoming part of it.
Nearly 14 million Britons have received the booster, but 40 million people are expected to receive it. The jabs may be available in the near future to younger people.
A growing number of countries including Israel, Croatia, Switzerland and Croatia are asking for evidence of boosters that were administered to their citizens months ago.
France indicated that over 65s will need to show proof of the third jab in order to gain access at most locations starting December 15.
Austria needed proof that the booster was working, so today they announced that they will go into full national lockdown beginning Monday. Austria is the latest Western European nation to be forced into another severe shutdown just days following a Government lockdown that only applied to the unvaccinated.
Delta waves are sweeping across Europe, putting more pressure on hospitals. The EU has been forced to reinstate some kind of curbs.