Self-reported coronavirus (COVID-19) infections and associated symptoms, England and Scotland: November 2023 to March 2024 (ONS, 25 April 2024)

Summary

This Office for National Statistics (ONS) report provides in-depth analysis of Winter Coronavirus Infection Study (Winter CIS) data looking at trends in self-reported symptoms of Covid-19 including ongoing symptoms and associated risk factors. Winter CIS was a joint study with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), carried out between November 2023 and March 2024 for England and Scotland. The study was structured as a longitudinal panel survey, with each participant sent a questionnaire and asked to take a lateral flow device test every four weeks for the detection of Covid-19.

Content

Key findings

• An estimated 3.3% (2 million) of people living in private households in England and Scotland were experiencing self-reported Long Covid (symptoms continuing for more than four weeks after a confirmed or suspected coronavirus (Covid-19) infection that were not explained by something else).
• Long Covid symptoms adversely affected the day-to-day activities of 1.5 million people (74.7% of those with self-reported Long Covid), with 381,000 (19.2% of those with self-reported Long Covid) reporting that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been "limited a lot".
• Those in the youngest (aged 3 to 17 years) and oldest (65 years and over) age groups were the least likely to test positive for Covid-19 during the study period.
• Those who have had a vaccination since September 2023 were less likely to test positive in the early waves of the study period (1 and 2); in later waves of the study period (3 and 4) there was no statistical difference.
• Participants in the oldest and youngest age groups who did test positive in the study period were also less likely to report symptoms consistent with "influenza-like illness" compared with those in the middle age groups.