COVID-19 data: hospital admissions, infection information, deaths

You asked

Please provide the following data:

1. What are the number of asymptotic COVID-19 positive tests that go on to become symptomatic?

2. What percentage is the false positive rate for the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test used to detect COVID-19?

3. What is the number of hospital admissions for September, October and November 2020 against the aforementioned months in 2019?

4. Can you provide evidence of COVID-19 being isolated in humans?

5. Can you provide evidence of infection rates lowering after implementing face coverings in the UK?

6. How many people in the UK have died from COVID-19 that were terminally ill?

We said

Thank you for your enquiry.

• What are the number of asymptotic COVID-19 positive tests that go on to become symptomatic?

Unfortunately, we do not hold this information. Public Health England may be better placed to assist with this part of your request. They can be contacted via email at wn_coronavirus@phe.gov.uk.

• What percentage is the false positive rate for the PCR test used to detect COVID-19?

Please see section 5 of our Methods article, which explains test sensitivity (true-positive rate) and specificity (true-negative rate).

• What is the number of hospital admissions for September, October and November 2020 against the aforementioned months in 2019?

We are responsible for the production of mortality statistics for England and Wales. Unfortunately, we do not hold data regarding hospital admissions and discharges. This data is held by NHS Digital, so they may be better placed to answer your query. They can be contacted via email at enquiries@nhsdigital.nhs.uk, and by telephone at 0300 303 5678.

• Can you provide evidence of COVID-19 being isolated in humans?

Unfortunately, we do not hold this information. Public Health England may be better placed to assist with this part of your request. They can be contacted via email at wn_coronavirus@phe.gov.uk.

• Can you provide evidence of infection rates lowering after implementing face coverings in the UK?

Please see our analysis of positivity over time in the official estimates published in our weekly bulletin, which would enable further investigation into specific time periods of interest.

• How many people in the UK have died from COVID-19 that were terminally ill?

As our data comes from the death certificate, we cannot define if the cause of death was a terminal illness. We can only look at deaths where a specific cause was underlying and COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. Therefore, we do not hold the data you have requested.

Information on COVID-19 deaths with pre-existing conditions from March to June 2020 can be found in our Deaths involving COVID-19, England and Wales: deaths occurring in June 2020 publication, which may be of interest to you.