The weekly Covid and Flu stats have been published by Public Health Scotland for 11th of January 2023.

Due to the festive period, the laboratory confirmed diagnoses data included in this week’s report may not be complete, should be interpreted with caution and is subject to change.

Covid

• In Scotland, in the week ending 28 December 2022, the estimated number of people testing positive for COVID-19 was 213,100 (95% credible interval: 172,000 to 258,300), equating to 4.05% of the population, or around 1 in 25 people (Source: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK – Office for National Statistics)
• In the week ending 08 January 2023, there were on average 1,297 patients in hospital with COVID-19, a 2.4% increase from the previous week ending 01 January 2023 (1,267)
• In the week ending 08 January 2023 there were 16 new admissions to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) with a laboratory confirmed test of COVID-19, an increase of 2 from the previous week (01 January 2023)
• By week ending 08 January 2023 of the 1,980,682 people vaccinated for COVID-19 as part of the Winter 2022 vaccination programme, 89.9% were vaccinated for Flu at the same vaccination appointment
• In the week ending 01 January 2023, there were 67 deaths involving COVID-19 (3 more than the previous week) (Source: National Records of Scotland)

Waste Water Monitoring – Orkney – Area served by the Kirkwall Sewage Network

Samples from every health board area are tested for traces of non-infective Covid-19 ribonucleic acid (RNA) and shared with public health partners so they can see where rates are increasing or decreasing. In combination with community testing, this information is helping Scotland understand the prevalence and distribution of the virus, and gives a broader, unbiased, picture of the possible number of cases in a community.

Flu

• The incidence rate of influenza has decreased to High activity level overall.
  • There were 1,215 influenza cases: 1,019 type A (not subtyped), 125 A(H3), 46 A(H1N1)pdm09 and 25 type B. This compares to 2,397 laboratory-confirmed cases reported during week 52.
  • Influenza by age: all individual age groups decreased but remained above Baseline activity level, with 75+ age group at Extraordinary activity level.
  • Influenza by NHS Board: three NHS Boards were at Moderate, eight was at High and three were at Extraordinary activity level.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae and parainfluenza remained at Baseline activity level. Rhinovirus decreased from Low to Baseline activity level.

The numbers of hospitalised patients who tested positive for influenza reported in weeks 51 and 52 are higher than those reported for any week since the start of the 2016/2017 season. The hospitalisation rate for influenza has been generally increasing since week 25 and was 23.1 per 100,000 in week 52. The highest hospital admission rate for confirmed influenza was among patients aged less than one year old (113.1 per 100,000).

Influenza by NHS Board – In week 01

• NHS Orkney remained at Moderate activity level.
• NHS Shetland and Western Isles increased from Moderate to High activity level.
• NHS Borders and Dumfries & Galloway decreased from High to Moderate activity level.
• NHS Fife, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Grampian, Lanarkshire, Lothian and Tayside decreased from Extraordinary to High activity level.
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Forth Valley and Highland remained at Extraordinary activity level

Influenza vaccine data show that at the end of week 1, an estimated total of 2,501,132 individuals have received their vaccine. This includes 1,920,297 eligible adults of whom 959,823 are aged 65 years and over. In addition, 89.9% of those receiving their COVID winter booster and eligible for flu vaccine have received both vaccines at the same appointment. More detailed data for the 2022/23 winter programme are available on the PHS flu and COVID winter vaccination dashboard.

NHS24 calls for respiratory symptoms. – In week 01

• NHS Shetland remained at Baseline activity level.
• NHS Western Isles increased from Baseline to Moderate activity level.
• NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Grampian, Lanarkshire and Tayside decreased from High to Moderate activity level.
• NHS Dumfries & Galloway decreased from Extraordinary to Moderate activity level.
• NHS Borders, Fife, Forth Valley, Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Lothian and Orkney remained at Moderate activity level.
• NHS Highland remained at High activity level.

All covid rules and restrictions have been lifted in Scotland, but the virus has not gone away. COVID-19, colds and flu can spread more easily in the winter.

We all still need to keep playing our part to protect ourselves and others. Stay well and make it safer for everyone this winter by:

• getting your vaccines if offered to ensure you are fully protected
• following the latest guidance if you are feeling unwell with symptoms or have a fever
• socialising in well-ventilated spaces where possible
• wearing a face covering in indoor public places and on public transport
• washing your hands and cleaning surfaces regularly
• knowing how to get the right care, in the right place
• knowing where to get support for your mental health and money worries
• keeping up to date with advice on staying healthy and being prepared for winter