Coronavirus (COVID-19) roundup: 13 August 2020

ONS investigated the link between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 deaths in England. They also published the latest indicators of the economic impact of lockdown. Some of the main points include:

• Deaths involving COVID-19 were more common in highly polluted areas in England, particularly early in the pandemic

• This was at least partly driven by outbreaks in areas such as London; the correlation between air pollution and mortality fell as deaths rose, before levelling off in early May

• Overall, the effects of long-term exposure to air pollution on COVID-19 deaths appear smaller than reported in previous studies, but it is difficult to isolate air pollution from other potential drivers of disparity in COVID-19 mortality for ethnic minorities 

• 29% of businesses currently trading said that their operating costs exceeded or were equal to their turnover, rising to 42% in the arts, entertainment and recreation sector

• The volume of online job adverts increased substantially in the latest week to 62% of its 2019 average, from 53% in the previous week

Read the ONS roundup