Coronavirus (COVID-19) roundup: 16 October 2020

ONS published the latest results from the COVID-19 Infection Survey, analysis of deaths by ethnic group and the latest impacts of local lockdowns. The main points include:

• The estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 has continued to increase rapidly in recent weeks

• An estimated 336,500 people within the community population in England had COVID-19 during the most recent week, from 2 to 8 October 2020, equating to around 1 in 160 people, or 0.62% of the population

• Between 2 and 8 October 2020, there were 5.11 new infections for every 10,000 people per day in the community population in England, equating to around 27,900 new cases per day

• There is evidence of higher infection rates in the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and The Humber

• Use of hospital records showed that although some health conditions were more common in certain ethnic groups, these differences did not have a significant effect in explaining ethnic group differences in the rate of COVID-19 death

• Accounting for age, geography, socio-economic and health (including pre-existing conditions), the rate of COVID-19 death was 2.5 times higher for Black African men than White men and 2.1 times higher for Black African women than White women

• Two-thirds (67%) of adults in local lockdown areas reported a lack of freedom and independence as the main way that COVID-19 was affecting their life, compared to 56% of those who are not currently in lockdown

Read the ONS roundup