COVID-19 first anniversary review of cases, hospitalization, and mortality in the UK
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 17, 2025
High-throughput Detection Method for Influenza Virus
Published on: February 4, 2012
Hamid A Merchant1, Chia Siang Kow2, Syed Shahzad Hasan1,3
1Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic in the UK saw peaks in April and winter 2020. Older adults, particularly those aged 50 and above, represented 98% of COVID-19 deaths, highlighting the need for new antiviral treatments.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Virology
Background:
- The United Kingdom reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on January 11, 2020.
- The pandemic experienced its first peak in April 2020 and a subsequent wave in winter 2020.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, critical care admissions, and deaths in the UK throughout 2020.
- To identify key demographic factors influencing COVID-19 mortality.
- To assess the effectiveness of critical care on survival rates.
Main Methods:
- In-depth analysis of COVID-19 data across the UK.
- Examination of hospitalization and critical care admission rates.
- Statistical analysis of mortality data, focusing on age as a determinant.
Main Results:
- COVID-19 hospital admissions reached 15% of total cases by November 2020.
- Mortality rate for COVID-19 positive patients was under 4% in November 2020.
- Individuals aged 50 and older accounted for 98% of all COVID-19 deaths; age distribution mirrored 2019 all-cause mortality.
- No significant improvement in survival rates for critical care patients was observed.
Conclusions:
- Age is the primary factor in COVID-19 mortality.
- The survival rate for critical care patients did not significantly improve.
- There is an urgent need for investment in novel antiviral therapeutics to protect vulnerable populations.
Abstract:
Introduction: The first confirmed COVID-19 case in UK dates to 11 January 2020, exhibiting its first peak during April 2020. The country has since been hit by another wave in the winter 2020, almost at the first anniversary of the pandemic.Areas covered: An in-depth analysis of the COVID-19 positive cases in the UK throughout the year, hospitalizations, patients in critical care, and COVID-19 associated deaths.Expert opinion: The COVID-19 associated hospital admission accounts to 15% of total COVID-19 positive cases in November 2020. The percentage of total COVID-19 positive patients in the country died from the disease was under 4% in November 2020. Total deaths in England (all-cause) from June to October 2020 were similar to the historic averages. Age was the single most determinator of COVID-19 associated mortality, 50 years or older accounted for 98% of total COVID deaths. Age distribution of COVID-19 associated deaths in 2020 was similar to all-cause mortality age distribution in 2019. There was no significant improvement in the survival rate of COVID-19 patients receiving critical care. This prompts an urgent need to invest in novel antiviral therapeutics to save the most vulnerable in the society.
