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Information
21 November 2024: COVID-19 positivity metrics not updated

A technical issue has prevented UKHSA from updating COVID-19 positivity. Work is underway to resolve the issue and resume reporting as soon as possible. The data presented was last updated on 7 November 2024.

BackEntry title:

COVID-19 headline tests 7 day percent change

Last updated on Wednesday, 20 December 2023 at 04:15pm

Summary

Topic
COVID-19
Category
headline
API name
COVID-19_headline_tests_7DayPercentChange

Rationale

COVID-19 testing is required to identify cases of COVID-19

Definition

This metric shows the percentage difference in the count of reported positive and negative COVID-19 tests taken in the last 7 days compared to the previous 7 days.

Data is shown by the date that the test was taken (specimen date).

Methodology

The testing data reporting on the dashboard is for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests only. Data from rapid lateral flow (LFD) tests are not included. Note that cases data includes results from both PCR and LFD tests.

Data for the last 5 days by specimen date are considered incomplete as it takes time to get test results and record them on relevant lab systems.

The percentage change in reported tests taken is calculated as the difference between the total of the daily tests counts in the 7 days up to and including the most recent date with "complete" data (i.e. 5 days before the latest reported date) and the total of the daily tests counts in the previous 7 days, divided by the total of the daily tests counts in the previous 7 days.

Caveats

Results from PCR tests only - LFD results are not included

A change from 0 to a number greater than 0 will be displayed as 100% increase. A change from a number greater than 0 to 0 will be displayed as -100% i.e. a 100% decrease

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