UK COVID-19 hospital admissions show rising trend as flu levels fall
Recent surveillance data reveals a summer increase in COVID-19 hospital admissions across the UK, even as other respiratory illnesses remain in decline. A separate report has also detailed critical failures and poor post-death care within the mortuary services at Nottingham University Hospitals.
As the United Kingdom enters the latter half of July 2026, the nation’s respiratory health landscape is undergoing a notable shift. According to data refreshed on 18 July 2026, hospital admission trends reveal that COVID-19 is experiencing a period of renewed growth, even as other seasonal threats remain in retreat.
Monitoring conducted by Infectrisk, which aggregates official surveillance from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), indicates that COVID-19 activity is classified as low, yet it is currently on an upward trajectory. This clear movement toward increased admissions has emerged over the past few weeks.
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Respiratory Trends: A Comparative Overview
While COVID-19 cases are rising, the status of other common respiratory illnesses offers a different picture. Data from the UKHSA Dashboard shows that influenza activity is currently low and falling. Similarly, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains at a low activity level with a stable trend. Health authorities observe that seasonal infection waves in the UK typically peak between December and February, while summer activity is usually markedly lower.
The UKHSA Dashboard, the primary national authority for England-wide respiratory surveillance, attributes these fluctuations to various factors, including the circulation of new virus variants and the fluctuating immune status of the population. Although infection waves are historically more severe during winter months when indoor gathering increases, occasional summer waves occur, driven by new variants.
Public Health Context and Surveillance
The current rise in COVID-19 hospital admissions is being tracked through a combination of laboratory-confirmed hospital admission rates and sentinel primary care network indicators. The Infectrisk tracker notes that these trends remain robust even when individual testing behaviours change, as they rely heavily on the clinical pressure placed on the healthcare system.
The data highlights the concept of immune debt, where population-level immunity to pathogens declines during periods of low circulation. This effect can lead to unusually severe seasons as the population encounters strains again, a phenomenon observed in recent years following the pandemic. During winter months, factors such as reduced humidity in heated buildings and increased indoor mixing further contribute to the transmission of respiratory viruses.
Institutional Challenges at Nottingham University Hospitals
A significant report into the Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust has brought to light a series of critical failures within its mortuary services. The investigation, led by Donna Ockenden, detailed instances where families suffered additional, avoidable trauma following the loss of loved ones.
"Many incidents involving poor post-death care share striking similarities, showing a marked lack of learning."
Donna Ockenden, report author, via BBC
As documented by the Bbc, these failings included the mishandling of remains and the sending of graphic post-mortem images to a bereaved family. The review, spanning data from 2008 to 2025, also noted cases where clinicians used dehumanising language regarding babies. In one instance, a mother was sent graphic images of a post-mortem on a disc alongside a letter detailing costs related to her son’s death.
The trust has since apologised and confirmed that new daily mortuary capacity and flow meetings have been established to reduce the risk of further deterioration of remains. These incidents remain under active scrutiny, with local police conducting separate investigations into misconduct in public office at the trust. NUH chief executive Anthony May has stated that he takes responsibility for the shortfalls that occurred.
What to Watch Next
- Weekly Surveillance Updates: The UKHSA Dashboard will continue to release data on a weekly cadence. Observers are watching to see if the rising COVID-19 trend plateaus or accelerates as the UK progresses through the summer.
- Mortuary Service Reforms: Further updates are expected regarding the oversight of mortuary practices at Nottingham University Hospitals, with the Human Tissue Authority continuing to monitor the trust’s remediation efforts.
- Operational Resilience: As the NHS manages shifting infection rates alongside its ongoing operational challenges, public health authorities will continue to compare current figures against historical non-epidemic baselines to determine if intervention thresholds are met.
For individuals seeking information regarding personal risk or symptoms, medical professionals remain the primary point of contact, as official surveillance data is intended for public health monitoring rather than individual clinical advice.
