Today's headline analysis:
• 129,587 new cases reported in 24-hour period, up from yesterday's 120,821
• 7-day average for new cases decreases by 5.9% to 148,353 per day, following 8.1% decrease yesterday (and 6th daily decrease in the past 7 days)
• 7-day average for new cases is 17.0% lower than one week ago (from 10.9% lower yesterday) and 18.6% higher than two weeks ago (from 38.2% higher yesterday and 94.4% higher 7 days ago)
• 2,180 new admissions to English hospitals in 24-hour period, up from yesterday's 1,975
• 7-day average for admissions to English hospitals decreases by 0.3% to 2,010 per day, following 0.7% increase yesterday
• 7-day average for admissions to English hospitals is 1.4% lower than one week ago (from 2.3% higher yesterday) and 56.0% higher than two weeks ago (from 69.4% higher yesterday and 143.4% higher 7 days ago)
• 16,881 Covid patients in English hospitals, down from yesterday's 16,939
• Number of Covid patients in English hospitals decreases by 0.3%, following 1.1% decrease yesterday
• Number of Covid patients in English hospitals is 7.8% higher than one week ago (from 12.6% higher yesterday) and 61.4% higher than two weeks ago (from 77.4% higher yesterday and 121.2% higher 7 days ago)
• 398 new deaths within 28 days of a positive test reported in 24-hour period, up from 379 yesterday
• 7-day average for new deaths within 28 days of a positive test increases by 3.9% to 246.1 per day, following 24.8% increase yesterday (and 6th consecutive daily increase)
• 7-day average for new deaths within 28 days of a positive test is 44.2% higher than one week ago (from 78.6% higher yesterday) and 233.9% higher than two weeks ago (from 182.1% higher yesterday and 52.6% higher 7 days ago)
Highest daily reported deaths since 24th February 2021.
Yesterday I posted that I expected a fall in the 7-day average today, as the effects of last week's bank holiday worked their way out of the numbers. That has clearly not happened and, whilst there is still the possibility of a correction in the coming days, it demonstrates that we enter the new year with a significantly higher average number of deaths than before the Christmas period.