In November 2023 ONS and UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) launched the Winter COVID-19 Infection Study (Winter CIS) to gather vital data on levels of the virus in the colder months.
James Tucker explores some of the findings and takes a deeper look at what they can tell us about ongoing symptoms and risk factors.
Read more on Exploring findings from the Winter COVID-19 Infection Study
If, and when, there is another pandemic, being prepared is the best way to ensure the right response is taken….
Read more on Working across four continents to prepare ourselves for another pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic heightened interest in patterns and levels of ‘excess’ deaths, typically defined as deaths over the number that might be expected to occur in an ‘average’ year. But with different organisations using different methods to calculate excess deaths, it can be difficult to build a clear picture. Working across government and the devolved nations, we have now agreed a common UK-wide approach to producing national estimates of excess mortality. As Julie Stanborough explains, this new methodology will give us a better understanding in this complex area.
Read more on Excess deaths – a new methodology and better understanding
Back in March 2020, life changed very suddenly as COVID-19 struck. In the first days of lockdown the ONS set up what it thought would be a temporary rapid business survey to assess how the pandemic was impacting UK businesses. Gemma Rabaiotti explains how four years and 100 waves of responses later, the Business Impact of Coronavirus survey– now renamed the Business Insights and Conditions survey – (BICS) has cemented its place as a timely and vital voice on the challenges facing businesses today.
Read more on A voice for UK businesses – a milestone for our business insights survey
The COVID-19 pandemic placed health and social care statistics into the headlines, encompassing a wide range of vital topics such as mortality, vaccine uptake, mental health and other health impacts. Nearly four years on from the first news reports of the ‘coronavirus’, the interest in health data and statistics has continued to grow. Julie Stanborough explains how we are working collaboratively with other data producers to improve health and social care statistics, and how you can have your say.
Read more on Working together to improve health and social care statistics
