FOI Reference: FOI/2022/4253
You asked
I am currently looking for a data set covering the following two topics.
For Positive Covid registration data, I am wondering if you can provide me information of all positive covid results since May 2020 to present. I would like this data to be presented across weekly timescales (mon-sun), and divided by age (each year, rather than pre-determined age groups). If possible, can this data be split by region and the most granular location detail possible.
Similarly, can you also provide data for flu (or like-ILI) infection data from October 2018 to February 2020. I would like this data to also be presented across weekly timescales (mon-sun), and divided by age (each year), and to be split to similar regional granularity if possible.
We said
Thank you for your request.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS) is a household survey that estimates the number of people testing positive for infection and for antibodies in the UK. Our statistics refer to the number of current COVID-19 infections within the population living in private residential households. We exclude those in hospitals, care homes and/or other communal establishments. In communal establishments, rates of COVID-19 infection are likely to be different.
We publish our results in the datasets accompanying our ONS Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey, UK bulletin. You can find our official reported estimates of number of people testing positive for COVID-19 in tab 1a of each of the UK country datasets. For England tab 1h contains modelled daily rates of the percentage of the population testing positive for COVID-19 by single year of age for the latest reporting period. For Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, these estimates can be found in tab 1d. For England, modelled percentages of the population testing positive for COVID-19 are available by CIS sub-region in tab 1i. For all countries, data for earlier time periods can be found in the back-series of datasets using the same links.
Further information and an overview of data about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and other sources can be found in our Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest insights tool.
Please note that we do not hold the raw counts of all positive tests in the survey broken down as you have requested. Under the freedom of information act, public bodies are not required to produce bespoke analysis in order to respond to freedom of information requests. However, you may be able to obtain this information via our bespoke services route. Such services would be subject to legal frameworks, disclosure controls, resources and agreement of costs. If you would like to request this bespoke dataset, please contact Infection.Survey.Analysis@ons.gov.uk to discuss your enquiry further. There may be a charge for this work which would be subject to our charging policy. Please note as mentioned above that this would only be positive Covid-19 test results for those on the CIS and not the wider population.
Please also be aware that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA, formerly Public Health England) are responsible for the NHS Test and Trace programme. You can find the official number of people testing positive on the Government's coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard. You can more detailed information, including age breakdowns, in their National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports. To discuss this data further you can contact the UKHSA via email at informationrights@ukhsa.gov.uk.
UKHSA may be better placed to respond to your query regarding flu infections. They are responsible for UK surveillance of influenza and other seasonal respiratory illnesses and publish their findings in weekly national flu reports. They can be contacted at informationrights@ukhsa.gov.uk should you require further detail.