covid travel update uk

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UKHSA data dashboard

The UKHSA data dashboard shows public health data across England. It builds on the success and is an iteration of the COVID-19 in the UK dashboard.

The dashboard currently presents a range of data on respiratory viruses. You can also view any weather health alerts issued warning of adverse weather. We will also add data for other health topics should they be declared on a case-by-case basis. In the future, it will grow to present a wider range of data on public health topics in line with the remit of the UKHSA.

The UKHSA data dashboard will be updated weekly on a Thursday at 9.30am (measles only) and again at 4pm (all other data).

We regularly update the dashboard with new data and features. To find out more about planned changes, please visit "What's Coming" .

Several metrics featured on this dashboard are currently on pause. This includes healthcare data for influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which will resume in autumn. It also includes COVID-19 genomic lineage data.

Summary of data. For more detailed data, go to the COVID-19 page .

Positive COVID-19 cases reported in England (7-day rolling average). Data for the most recent 7 days is incomplete and is not shown.

Up to and including 3 July 2024

Download data.

Deaths with COVID-19 on the death certificate in England

Up to and including 28 June 2024

Summary of data. For more detailed data, go to the influenza page .

Weekly hospital admission rates for influenza per 100,000 trust catchment population

Up to and including 13 May 2024

Weekly positivity for influenza - the percentage of people with at least one positive PCR test result, out of all people who had a PCR test in the same seven days. Data is shown by specimen date (the date the sample was collected).

Up to and including 24 June 2024

Other respiratory viruses.

Summary of data. For more detailed data, go to the other respiratory viruses page .

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)

Parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus (rsv).

Weekly positivity for other respiratory viruses - the percentage of people with at least one positive PCR test result, out of all people who had a PCR test in the same seven days. Data is shown by specimen date (the date the sample was collected).

The percentage of people who had a PCR test and had at least one positive PCR test result for RSV in the same 7 days. Data is shown for England by specimen date (the date the sample was collected) and UKHSA Region.

Related links

Get NHS advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, treatments, looking after yourself at home, how to avoid catching and spreading the virus, vaccinations and long-term effects.

Get NHS advice on influenza (flu), including symptoms, how to treat it at home and when to seek medical advice.

National influenza and COVID-19 report, monitoring COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

Read more about the sources of data for surveillance systems used to monitor COVID-19, influenza and other seasonal respiratory viruses in England.

Covid in summer 2024 - symptoms, testing and what to do if you have it

The number of people catching the coronavirus has jumped in recent weeks - but what are the rules around testing and self-isolating if you or your family are affected

• 15:56, 3 Jul 2024
• Updated 16:48, 3 Jul 2024

The number of people catching Covid has soared by a third in recent weeks. Latest figures from the UK Health Security Agency show that in the week running up to June 19, 2024, there were 2,815 confirmed cases in England - up by 33.5%.

And with minimum testing for the virus this means the figures could be significantly higher. Many of these are from a new group of variants known as FLiRT - coming from the JN.1 variant which is a sub-variant of the omicron strain.

Since the height of the pandemic the virus has been constantly changing - and along with it the symptoms as well as the testing and self-isolating rules. And far from the start when people had to stay away from others for at least 14 days many people are now treating it the same as any other bug and often behaving as usual.

While the strict rules have now gone there are however guidelines in place. So what are the current symptoms in summer 2024 and what should you do if you believe you have caught the virus?

According to the NHS Covid-19 symptoms in 2024 can include:

• a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
• shortness of breath
• feeling tired or exhausted
• an aching body
• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• loss of appetite
• feeling sick or being sick

The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu. Most people feel better within a few weeks, but it can take longer to recover.

However, for some people, it can be a more serious illness. This can mean that their symptoms last longer.

What to do if you have Covid-19 symptoms

The NHS advises people should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child has symptoms and either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature. If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.

While treatment for Covid-19 isn't always possible there are things you can do to ease the symptoms.

You should:

get lots of rest

drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)

take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable

try having a teaspoon of honey if you have a cough – do not give honey to babies under 12 months

try turning the heating down or opening a window to help with breathlessness

breathe slowly in through your nose and out through your mouth, with your lips together like you're gently blowing out a candle

sit upright in a chair to help with breathlessness

relax your shoulders, so you're not hunched to help with breathlessness

lean forward slightly – support yourself by putting your hands on your knees or on something stable like a chair to help with breathlessness

You should not:

lie on your back if you have a cough – lie on your side or sit upright instead

use a fan to cool your room as it may spread the virus

panic if you're feeling breathless – this can make it worse

What to do if you have tested positive

You are no longer required to do a Covid-19 rapid lateral flow test if you have symptoms. However, if you or your child have tested positive for Covid-19:

• try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for three days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults
• try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for five days after the day you take your test if you are 18 years old or over
• avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test

Who can get a free lateral flow Covid test?

Covid-19 rapid lateral flow tests are no longer free for most people. However, you may still be able to get free Covid-19 rapid lateral flow tests from the NHS if you:

• have a health condition which means you're eligible for Covid-19 treatment
• work in healthcare settings or in a hospice

If you want to get tested but are not eligible for free rapid lateral flow tests, you need to pay for the test yourself. You can buy rapid lateral flow tests from some pharmacies and retailers, in person or online.

MORE ON NHS Paracetamol Childcare Flu Coronavirus

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UK hospitals tell visitors with Covid symptoms to stay away amid summer outbreak of new FLiRT variants

• Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later. More content below

Hospitals have asked people with Covid symptoms not to visit as new variants spread across the UK.

Cases are rising of the FLiRT and LB.1 variants, which have similar symptoms to previous strains .

While visitors with symptoms are being asked to stay away, anyone seriously unwell who suspects they have Covid is still advised to seek help.

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust released a statement, saying: “We are seeing a rise in cases of Covid-19 in London and patients testing positive in UCLH hospitals.

“While we remain open to visitors, please do not visit if you are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19.

“If you do visit, please feel free to wear a mask if you feel more comfortable doing so.

“We will review this situation towards the end of this week, and hope to update this message then.”

Royal Devon NHS posted on Twitter/X: “We’re seeing an increase in cases of Covid-19 in the community, so please help us to help you and your loved one by not visiting our hospitals if you are showing any symptoms of the virus. Thank you.”

Taken from mutations characterising the KP.3, KP.2, and KP.1.1 Covid variants, the term “FLiRT” is used to collectively describe a group of new strains of the virus that surfaced in April.

The LB.1 variant, which is another Omicron and FLiRT variant, has been reported to cause symptoms similar to the FLiRT strains.

Common symptoms are similar to those from previous strains: fever, coughing, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, muscle or body aches, shortness of breath, headache, and a runny nose.

The UK Health Security Agency said in May: “If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, such as Covid-19, and you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to go to work or carry out normal activities, you should avoid contact with vulnerable people and stay at home if possible.”

Dr Mariyam Malik, an NHS and private GP at Pall Mall Medical said crowds can contribute to the spread of infections.

“Increased travel and big events such as festivals often result in crowded settings where the virus can spread more easily, and there is no longer any legal restrictions like wearing masks, social distancing,” he said.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that patients with Covid symptoms had been asked to stay away from hospitals. This has now been updated to reflect that only visitors with symptoms have been asked to stay away – anyone in need of medical assistance with Covid symptoms should still seek help

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COVID data indicates surge in cases - and southwest has UK's highest infection rate

Almost 790,000 people across the UK who use the ZOE health app are estimated to have symptomatic COVID, with Boots reporting sales of tests have jumped by more than a third this month.

Science correspondent @SkyNewsThomas

Sunday 30 July 2023 01:05, UK

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The COVID pandemic is long gone, but we are still being stalked by the virus.

Boots reports that sales of COVID tests have jumped by more than a third this month as people suffer more coughs, sore throats and headaches.

And users of the ZOE health app are also reporting more COVID symptoms.

Data for 29 July shows that 789,695 people across the UK are estimated to have symptomatic COVID.

Rates are currently highest in the South West of England with between 931 and 1,628 daily new cases per million people - with Wales not far behind with between 591 and 1,755 new reports a day per million people.

In Yorkshire and the Humber, rates are at their lowest with somewhere between 328 and 1,088 new cases a day per million people.

These are huge ranges, so there is uncertainty about the actual number.

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The Government no longer funds the more reliable and comprehensive infection survey run by the Office for National Statistics.

Read more: COVID-19 potentially spread from deer to humans multiple times - study UK 'prepared for the wrong pandemic'

Nevertheless, the ZOE data does show a 30% rise in daily cases since the start of July.

But they are still well below the peaks of the pandemic. The ZOE data shows there were more than 3.8 million daily new cases as Omicron surged last spring.

The recent rise also shows a small increase in people admitted to hospital with COVID.

The latest data from the Government dashboard shows 677 patients in England had a positive test in the week to 21 July, up from 465 at the end of June.

Again, that's well below the Omicron peak of 9,618.

Still, the UK Health Protection Agency says it is keeping an eye on the figures.

So what's going on? Surely we were rid of the virus long ago?

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Waning immunity will play a large part.

With less virus circulating it is many months since many people will have been infected.

And it is even longer ago that most had a dose of the vaccine.

Last autumn, everyone over 50 was urged to have a booster.

But uptake was just 40% in people in their early 50s in England and likely to be similar in the rest of the UK.

In those in their late 50s, it was 52%.

It's only when you get to the over 75s, the group most at risk of serious infection, that uptake climbed above 80%.

The over-75s were also eligible for a booster in the spring of this year, with 70% taking up the offer. So their protection is likely to be holding up.

But protection in the rest of the population is falling off.

COVID is here to stay.

It's far milder now than it was, with no sign of a troubling new variant in more than 18 months.

But rates will go on rising and falling, just like so many other respiratory infections.

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• International travel, immigration and repatriation during COVID-19
• Entering England during COVID-19

Travel update: new destinations added to government travel lists

Bulgaria and Hong Kong to be added to the green list plus Croatia and Taiwan to be added to the green watchlist at 4am on Monday 19 July.

• the UK government has updated its travel lists, adding Bulgaria and Hong Kong to the green list and Croatia and Taiwan to the green watchlist, meaning passengers arriving into England after 4am on Monday 19 July will no longer need to quarantine on arrival – Croatia and Taiwan are being added to the green watchlist, in recognition that these countries and territories are at risk of moving from green to amber
• Cuba, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sierra Leone added to the red list to safeguard the domestic vaccine rollout and public health
• travel continues to be different from usual, and passengers should check latest travel advice from FCDO and be prepared for longer wait times and more checks during their journey

The UK government has updated its travel lists, adding Bulgaria and Hong Kong to the green list and Croatia and Taiwan to the green watchlist , meaning passengers arriving into England after 4am on Monday 19 July will no longer need to quarantine on arrival. Croatia and Taiwan have been added to the green watchlist in recognition that these countries and territories are at risk of moving from green to amber.

Due to a sharp rise in the number of cases, ministers have also taken the decision to move the Balearic Islands and British Virgin Islands from the green watchlist to amber . All classification changes are decided by ministers. These are informed by the latest data and analysis by the Joint Biosecurity Centre ( JBC ) and wider public health factors. Since the last traffic light review, the case rate has more than doubled in the Balearics.

Cuba, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sierra Leone will be added to the red list from 4am Monday 19 July. Visitors who have departed from or transited through these countries and territories in the previous 10 days will be refused entry into England. Only British and Irish citizens, or those with residence rights (including long-term visa holders), will be allowed to enter and must stay in a government-approved facility for 10 days.

Before travelling to England, everyone needs to take a pre-departure test and complete a passenger locator form regardless of where they are coming from. If arriving from a green list destination you will also be required to take a day 2 PCR test. Arrivals from amber list countries and territories who are not fully vaccinated will need a day 2 and day 8 test , and to quarantine for 10 days. The Test to Release scheme remains an option for non-fully vaccinated travellers returning from amber countries and territories to shorten their quarantine period.

The implementation date will coincide with the changes to the requirements for passengers travelling to amber countries who have been fully vaccinated . As previously announced , from 19 July the following groups will no longer need to quarantine or take a day 8 PCR test if arriving from amber countries and territories, but will still need to complete a pre-departure test before arrival into England, alongside a PCR test on or before day 2 after arrival:

• fully vaccinated through the UK vaccination programme
• on a formally approved COVID-19 clinical trial in the UK
• people aged under 18 and resident in the UK

France – important information

The changes to the amber list rules for fully UK vaccinated people will not apply to France .

These measures are subject to passengers providing proof of their vaccination status and correct test results and test package bookings to carriers in advance of travel.

Carriers will have a critical role in carrying out primary checks on all passengers before boarding, checking people have the right COVID-19 certification documents to ensure we can continue to safeguard against new variants. Anyone not complying with health measures could face a fine, and carriers will be required to ensure proper checks are carried out.

Travel continues to be different this summer, and while some restrictions remain in place passengers should expect their experience to be different and may face longer wait times than they are used to – although the government is making every effort to speed up queues safely. We will continue to rollout e-gates over the summer, with many already in operation across airports and more to be added over the coming months.

If travelling abroad, you need to take steps to keep safe and prepare in case things change before you go or while you are there. Check the booking terms and conditions on flexibility and refunds because the situation remains fluid. Many travel firms have changed their terms to be fully flexible. Check and subscribe to FCDO travel advice updates to understand the latest entry requirements and COVID-19 rules at their destination – and passengers are advised to check all entry requirements and FCDO travel advice before they book any foreign travel.

These measures will be kept under review and be guided by the latest data. Public health remains our top priority, and we will not hesitate to act should the data show that countries risk ratings have changed.

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