‍According to the latest COVID Symptom Study app figures, there are currently, 7,536 daily new symptomatic cases of COVID in the UK on average over the two weeks up to 13 September (excluding care homes).

The number of daily new cases continues to climb in the UK, with the highest numbers in the North of England and the Midlands. This is the first time since June that the data for London has shown a significant uptick.

The R values for the UK are all above 1.3; England 1.4, Scotland 1.3 and Wales 1.3. The R Value of 1.4 in England means that cases are doubling every 7 days. 

The latest figures were based on the data from 8,124 swab tests done between 31 August to 13 September (a full regional breakdown can be found here).

The latest prevalence figures estimate that 69,686 people currently have symptomatic COVID in the UK, this figure has almost doubled since last week (35,248). This figure does not include long term COVID sufferers. Regionally, the picture in the South West is positive, as the region has seen numbers remain low around 2,000 estimated cases, numbers are also lower in South East and the East of England. Compared to the North East and Yorkshire (12,916), North West (12,544) and the Midlands (9,877), figures that have been rising daily.

COVID Symptom Study Watch List

The COVID Symptom Study app’s Watch List this week sees little movement from last week, with many of the same regions on the list, with Belfast still on top, followed by Lisburn and Castlereagh and Glasgow. The Watch List is made up of three regions in Northern Ireland, five regions in Scotland and two regions in England, there are no Welsh regions.

Tim Spector, Professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London, comments: 

“The data from the app is painting a worrying picture, with cases on the rise across the UK, with the only exception to that rule being the South West where we see numbers staying low. With the lockdown coming into place in the North of England, the data suggests that localised lockdowns will be the best approach whilst we are still seeing big differences between The South and The North. Numbers are on the rise in London, meaning we must keep a close eye on the situation.

This does appear to be the start of a second wave and we are urging as many people as possible to download the app and log for themselves and their families and join the 1.5million people who are checking in with us regularly. The data provided by our users means we are able to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the UK in almost real time. The more people we have, the more accurate we can be.”