The Week in Numbers (to June 22nd)

It's time to hail a taxi

10% 

In week 24, SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 10.0%, compared with 8.4% in the previous week. It’s back, and you can hear the media cries—well, actually, you can’t. 

At the same time rhinovirus is back: positivity increased to 9.4%, with the highest in those aged under 5 years at 24%. 

1,504 

In the week ending 7 June 2024, 14% of registered deaths involved influenza or pneumonia (1,504 deaths), while 1.3% involved COVID-19 (145 deaths). Normal service has resumed, and there is no interest in the latest data—but don’t worry—routine service will resume sometime soon.  

£40 million 

The amount Russian hackers are demanding from the NHS doesn’t seem much of an ask, given that we wasted £37 billion on the COVID test and trace program. However, if it's this easy to hack into the NHS, we may need old-school pen and paper soon.  

84% 

A BMA survey of 1,852 locums found that 84% cannot find work despite colossal waits to see a GP. The greater use of physician associates is pushing GPs to become Uber dri…