Overview

• UKHSA data show Stratus accounts for about 63% of monitored UK cases with Nimbus at roughly 25%, and WHO reports Stratus surpasses 60% of global cases.
• RCGP surveillance indicates infections are rising fastest in the very young and older adults, with September positivity at 10.8% in GP practices and 8.9% in hospital swabs.
• Hospital impact has grown, with 1,216 Covid patients in England at the end of September and admissions up about 15.6% since July.
• The autumn booster offer currently covers care home residents, people aged 75 and over, and immunocompromised individuals aged six months to 74.
• Community Pharmacy England says roughly a quarter to a half of people arriving for jabs are being turned away for not meeting criteria, as clinicians flag a ‘razor blade’ sore throat and hoarseness and advise urgent care for breathing difficulty, chest pain, confusion, or inability to eat or drink.