COVID-19 Positivity Test Rates Increases to 9.1 Percent Across the United Kingdom
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 09, 2026 48 minutes ago
COVID-19 infections are showing signs of increasing in England, with hospital laboratory positivity rates reaching 9.1 percent in early October 2026.
The latest surveillance findings indicate rising infections, hospital admissions, and emergency department visits, although overall COVID-19 activity remains relatively low.
COVID-19 hospital test positivity reaches 9.1 percent as England records rising hospital admissions and emergency
department visits
The figures, covering September 28 to October 4, 2026, highlight renewed coronavirus transmission as the country enters the autumn respiratory illness season.
Hospital COVID-19 Test Positivity Rises
According to the latest surveillance data, COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity in hospital settings increased from 7.9 percent to 9.1 percent between consecutive Sundays.
This represents a 1.2 percentage-point increase, suggesting that a growing proportion of tested hospital patients are carrying SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.
However, hospital laboratory surveillance continues to classify overall COVID-19 activity as low.
Meanwhile, testing conducted through general practitioner (GP) surveillance showed relatively stable infection levels.
During week 40, approximately 10.8 percent of tested samples were positive, compared with 10.9 percent during the preceding week.
GP surveillance classified positivity as moderate, indicating continued community transmission despite the absence of a significant weekly increase.
COVID-19 Hospital Admissions Increase
Hospital admission figures provide further evidence of increasing COVID-19 activity.
The weekly COVID-19 hospitalization rate rose to 2.04 admissions per 100,000 people, compared with 1.75 per 100,000 during the previous week.
This represents an increase of approximately 16.6 percent, although hospitalization levels remain within the surveillance system's baseline classification.
Admissions to intensive care units (ICUs) and high-dependency units (HDUs) remained comparatively uncommon.
The weekly ICU/HDU admission rate increased slightly from 0.05 to 0.06 per 100,000 people, suggesting that severe cases requiring advanced hospital care remain relatively limited.
Emergency Department Visits Also Rising
Emergency department attendances involving COVID-19-like symptoms increased and exceeded seasonally expected levels.
Surveillance systems also recorded more confirmed COVID-19 acute respiratory infection incidents than during the preceding week.
Together, these indicators suggest increasing pressure from respiratory infections, even though current COVID-19 activity remains substantially below levels associated with major epidemic waves.
Autumn Vaccination Campaign Underway
This
Thailand Medical
News report also highlights early vaccination uptake among vulnerable populations.
By October 4, approximately 10.2 percent of adults aged 75 and older had received an autumn 2026 COVID-19 vaccine dose since October 1.
Among immunocompromised individuals younger than 75, coverage reached 4.1 percent.
These figures represent only the opening days of the autumn vaccination campaign rather than its eventual coverage.
Conclusion
The latest findings indicate increasing COVID-19 transmission and hospital admissions, although severe disease indicators remain low. Continued surveillance, vaccination among eligible vulnerable groups, and timely public health precautions will remain important as respiratory virus activity develops throughout autumn.
Reference: UK respiratory virus surveillance data, week 40, 2026.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-reports-2026-to-2027-season/national-flu-and-covid-19-surveillance-report-8-october-2026-week-41 
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