UK STATISTICS
There have been 18 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK and 160,000 people have died, government figures show. Over 52.5 million people have now received a first dose of the vaccine, 91% of people in the UK aged 12 and over. More than 48 million, 85% have had their second and more than 37 million, 66% have had a booster.
*Government case figures now include people in England and Northern Ireland who have tested positive for a second time – after at least a 90-day gap – rather than just first infections.
Total UK Cases: 18,695,448 positive tests
Latest UK daily figure: 41,130 new cases
Number in UK hospital: 11,357
New deaths across UK: 205
Total UK deaths: 160,815
England Cases per 100,000: 444
R number in UK: 0.8-1.1
Vaccine data:
Total 1st doses given: 52,581,000 – 91% of UK aged 12+
Total 2nd doses: 85%
Daily 1st doses: 7,411
Daily 2nd doses: 16,008
Daily Booster doses: 29,154
The R value and growth rate
The latest reproduction number (R) and growth rate of coronavirus (COVID-19).
The R range for England is 0.8 to 1.0; the growth rate for England is -3% to +0% per day as of 11 February
COVID-19: estimated administrative vaccine uptake for people aged 18 and over
Daily percentage of the UK population aged 18 and over who have received a first dose, second dose, or third or booster dose to date.
Coronavirus cases in the UK: daily updated statistics
The latest number of coronavirus (COVID-19) tests, cases and deaths in the UK. The way deaths are reported is based on a 28-day limit between the date of a positive lab-confirmed test and date of death.
Latest Cheshire East data:
Total Cheshire East cases: 108,804
New cases in past 7 days: 1,796 to 17 Feb
Total deaths: 1,030
Cases per 100,000: 464.5
UK NEWS UPDATES:
Prime Minister sets out plan for Living with Covid
- Vaccines will remain the first line of defence against Covid-19 as the Prime Minister sets out the Government’s plans to live with and manage the virus.
Over 31 million boosters have been administered across England and almost 38 million UK wide helping break the link between infections and hospitalisations. - In the Spring, the Government will offer an additional booster to all adults aged over 75, all residents in care homes for older adults, and all over 12s who are immunosuppressed.
Domestic restrictions end on Thursday Februray 24th;
- while encouraging safer behaviours through public health advice, covid will be treated in common with other infectious illnesses such as flu
- The legal requiement to self isolate ends
- Self-isolation support payments ends
- Routine contract tracing ends
- Fully vaccinated adults and those under 18 are no longer advised to self-isolate
- Staff and students in education and childcare settings will not need to take twice-weekly asymptomatic testing
From April, advice and steps will be published to protect the vulnerable through pharmaceutical interventions and testing, in line with other viruses
- Free testing will end
- Maintaining resilience against future variants, including through ongoing surveillance, contingency planning and the ability to reintroduce key capabilities such as mass vaccination and testing in an emergency
- Securing innovations and opportunities from the COVID-19 response, including investment in life sciences
REGIONAL & LOCAL NEWS:
Health Club Group targets growth despite pandemic dip in turnover
Total Fitness Health Clubs, based in Wilmslow, operates a chain of 15 health clubs in the UK, known as Total Fitness. For the 18-month period to 30 June 2021, the business reported turnover of £26.6m, a decrease from £37.3m in the 12 months ended 31 December 2019. The company posted an operating loss of £8.3m compared to £821,000 in the prior period, according to its strategic report.
In a statement, Jasvir Sanghera, chief financial officer at Total Fitness, said its performance had been impacted by the situation the UK fitness industry faced during the pandemic and enforced closures. However, Sanghera was “happy” with the current performance of the business and looking forward to a “positive” year ahead.
Have your say on your local NHS services
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust and East Cheshire NHS Trust and local Clinical Commissioning Groups to understand how some health and care services could be improved and sustained in the future. A six-week listening exercise launched on Monday 21st February 2022 to gather opinions from health and care staff, patients, carers, and local people on what currently works well, what could be improved, and whether there are any barriers that stop people from accessing health services in the area. The survey, which closes on Saturday 2nd April covers a wide range of services
SECTOR SPECIFIC CORONAVIRUS-RELATED NEWS:
BUSINESS:
If you need to self-isolate or cannot attend work due to coronavirus
From 24 February, you’ll no longer be legally required to self-isolate if you test positive for COVID-19 or if you’re an unvaccinated close contact of someone who’s tested positive.
Employers who have claimed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
Monthly data on claims made by employers through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): right to work checks
Advice for employers carrying out right to work checks during the coronavirus pandemic – guidance updated to reflect the extended end date for the temporary adjusted checking process is now 30 September 2022
COMMUNITY:
Finding and choosing a private coronavirus (COVID-19) test provider
Lists of and information about private test providers, to help you get the private COVID-19 tests you need – updated the general list of providers.
CONSTRUCTION:
Buy-to-rent set to boom
The development of new homes build-to-rent (BTR) is set to provide a boom for construction companies. The last quarterly report by the British Property Federation found there are now 212,177 build-to-rent homes in the UK. This comprises 70,785 completed units plus 42,119 under construction and another 99,273 in the planning pipeline. Glenigan’s construction industry research has identified many of these BTR schemes moving through the development cycle, which will provide a host of opportunities.
EDUCATION:
Alternative provision: year 11 transition funding
Sets out the financial support available to alternative provision (AP) schools and colleges to support current year 11 students into post-16 education.
Higher education providers: coronavirus (COVID-19)
Updated to reflect the end of the asymptomatic testing programme. Reference made to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) guidance on contact tracing and isolation which comes into effect from Thursday 24 February 2022.
HEALTH & WELLBEING:
JCVI advises a spring COVID-19 vaccine dose for the most vulnerable
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised an additional spring booster dose for the most vulnerable individuals in the population.
JUDICIARY / LEGAL:
PROPERTY:
SPORT:
TRAVEL:
Covid passports to remain into the summer
Boris Johnson told parliament Covid certification would no longer be needed domestically from 1 April but added the NHS app would remain for international travel. Johnson made no mention of passenger locator forms in his speech, but responding to a question, said the government was “certainly reviewing it by Easter”. Earlier, transport secretary Grant Shapps said he hoped the PLF would be “significantly simplified” in time for the Easter holidays. He also announced a programme of spring booster jabs for the over-75s and vulnerable people.
Small businesses received £21.3 billion in COVID-19 support from local authority grants 
Two year extension announced for Covid Recovery Loan scheme 
Research finds Covid-19 has not fundamentally changed the UK labour market