UKHSA’S weekly surveillance report: focusing on ‘Pillar 1’ data

All over the pandemic UKSHA has revealed around 100 weekly nationwide flu and COVID-19 surveillance experiences.

These reports offer an essential photo of the pandemic by detailing figures of confirmed instances, outbreaks, hospitalisations and fatalities – where doable broken down by factors like age, gender, area and environment.

As we find out to stay with COVID-19, and as outlined in the government’s Residing with COVID-19 system, the virus will be now managed a lot like other respiratory infections, this sort of as flu. This suggests that we will examination, keep an eye on and report on the virus in a way that is closer to what we do so for other infectious conditions.

Alterations to how we have out and aid COVID-19 screening suggest that ‘Pillar 2’ tests knowledge, which involves group LFD and PCR tests of equally symptomatic and asymptomatic conditions, will no extended offer the same volume of information it will thus not be the key ingredient of our weekly studies, which will be dominated by ‘Pillar 1’ check final results from the NHS.

Of training course, testing remains in put for certain significant-hazard teams this sort of as people in NHS hospitals, those people eligible for COVID-19 antiviral and other treatment plans and team working in the NHS and adult social care.

This info has fashioned the basis of ‘Pillar 1’ screening during the pandemic. Concentrating on these check final results will empower us to keep on to keep track of and shield those people most at possibility of hospitalisation, severe disease and potentially demise. Pillar 1 facts will also go on to support genomic surveillance which will help track the evolution of the virus.

Nevertheless, community tests details will keep on to be published along with this crucial details and will deliver a practical broader context as we observe the all round effect of COVID-19.

The RCGP sentinel swabbing plan will carry on to supply an essential indicator for COVID-19 conditions and positivity in the community. By sampling about 200 GP techniques, the plan offers a positivity amount which screens week by week, by age and by area to see if the proportion of persons with COVID-19 will increase.

True-time syndromic surveillance is utilised everyday by wellness specialists to search for changing trends which reveal bigger levels of ailment in the population. This surveillance technique collects and analyses anonymised wellness facts from throughout England – tracking signs or symptoms offered by sufferers somewhat than laboratory exams for individual bacterial infections.

All of our surveillance methodologies are selected so that details can be measured frequently and persistently around the lengthy time period. No single resource of details tells the total tale of disease activity, nor can any process present a definitive determine for accurately how a lot of men and women could have a condition these kinds of as COVID-19.

But as we understand to are living with COVID-19 our surveillance will go on to supply a solid comprehending of COVID-19 action and give valuable insights to tell public well being motion and health companies.