The IFR was significantly lower throughout in London at 0.9% (95% CrI 0.8%-1.0%), even when adjusting for demographics. Severity, in this report calculated as the proportion of hospitalisations (infection hospitalisation ratio, IHR) and deaths (infection fatality ratio, IFR) among all infections, was estimated by region and by age.Īt the start of the first wave, the report found that 3.5% (95% CrI: 3.3%-3.7-%) of people infected in England needed hospitalisation (IHR) and 1.3% (95% CrI: 1.2%-1.3%) of people infected in England died (IFR).
SeverityĬOVID-19 manifests a broad spectrum of severity, from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening illness requiring intensive care. The researchers estimate a cumulative attack rate ranging between 4.8% (95% CrI 4.4%-5.1%) and 15.4% (95% CrI 14.9%-15.9%) depending on region, suggesting that the current level of population-level immunity from natural infection in England is still low. The results presented in this report suggest that the intense transmission seen within the care home network, makes reducing infection levels in this key population group challenging.Īlthough the reproduction number R t in the community was well below 1 in all regions during lockdown, high level of transmission was still ongoing in care homes during that period. Play video Real Time Modelling of COVID-19 Transmission It uses data from daily recorded deaths, PCR testing, hospital admissions, hospital bed occupancy, individual patient outcomes, contact surveys, and serological surveys.
The age structured model is unique in representing care homes, in addition to hospital clinical pathways and the wider community. The team developed a mathematical (stochastic) model for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Introducing national lockdown one week earlier would have reduced the first wave death toll from 36,700 to 15,700 (95% CrI 8,900-26,800).Only national lockdown brought the reproduction number below 1 consistently in the first wave.IFR was higher in the elderly (all ages) residing in care homes, 35.9% (95% CrI 29.1%-43.4%) than those aged over 80 years residing in the community, 10.4% (95% CrI 9.1%-11.5%).IFR was lower throughout in London at 0.9% (95% CrI 0.8%-1.0%), even when adjusting for demographics.