COVID-19 Coronavirus and other virus UK and World News Update 11th October 2024
England's hospital admissions with COVID rose by 69% over September, so the wave did continue, and alas it seems it's not peaked yet. Cases are a mystery, as hardly anyone tests, but I know it is running around our local area at the moment, which is a lot rarer than it was when we were in Manchester.
"10,096 deaths were registered in England and Wales, week ending 27 September 2024 (Week 39):
· 10.7% lower than the expected number (1,215 fewer deaths)
· 12.8% involved influenza or pneumonia (1,291 deaths)
· 1.4% involved COVID19 (143 deaths)"
It's absolutely great that we have sustained the lower losses of life, but 143 people still officially died from COVID last week - it really isn't 'over'.
There is a very important and somewhat grounding point to note, as Stuart McDonald of the COVID Actuaries explains:
"Mortality rates for young adults are still higher than any recent pre-pandemic year.
The CMI quarterly mortality monitor published yesterday shows that only 2021 and 2023 had higher death rates than we’ve seen so far in 2024."
We are still losing far too many people too early. It's hard to pull apart exactly why, but cardiovascular mortality is the main driver - heart and blood conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, aneurysm etc. These are areas we know can often sustain damage from COVID infection.
