Official Statistics

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance report: 16 July 2026 (week 29)

Published 16 July 2026

Applies to England

This report summarises the information from the surveillance systems which are used to monitor COVID-19 (caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)), influenza, and diseases caused by seasonal respiratory viruses in England. The report is based on data up to week 28 of 2026 between 6 July and 12 July 2026.

Main points

The main messages of this report are:

• influenza activity remained low and circulating at baseline levels
• COVID-19 activity remained low and circulating at baseline levels
• respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity remained low and circulating at baseline levels

Seasonal reports

Annual reports for the 2025 to 2026 season:

• Influenza in the UK, annual epidemiological report: winter 2025 to 2026 (published 28 May 2026)

• Epidemiology of COVID-19 in England (published 25 June 2026)

• Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in all GP patients: annual report 2025 to 2026 (published 28 May 2026)

• Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in school-aged children: annual report 2025 to 2026 (published 28 May 2026)

• Seasonal influenza vaccine uptake in frontline healthcare workers: annual report 2025 to 2026 (published 28 May 2026)

Summary of all respiratory virus activity

Influenza activity

Influenza activity remained low and is circulating at baseline levels. Emergency department (ED) attendances for influenza-like-illness (ILI) remained low. Reporting of weekly influenza hospital admissions for the 2025 to 2026 season concluded in week 17.

Indicator	Trend	Level [note 1]	Comments
Laboratory surveillance	Decreasing	Baseline	Influenza positivity decreased with a positivity rate on the most recent Sunday of 0.6% compared with 0.7% on the previous Sunday
GP swabbing positivity	Increasing	Baseline	In week 28, among all tested samples, 1.7% were positive for influenza, compared with 0% in the previous week

COVID-19 activity

COVID-19 activity remained low and is circulating at baseline levels. ED attendances for COVID-19-like illness remained low.

Indicator	Trend	Level [note 1]	Comments
Laboratory surveillance	Increasing	Baseline	COVID-19 PCR (polymerase chain reaction) positivity in hospital settings increased with a positivity rate on the most recent Sunday of 1% compared with 0.6% on the previous Sunday
GP swabbing positivity	Increasing	Baseline	In week 28, among all tested samples, 5% were positive for SARS-CoV-2, compared with 1.1% in the previous week
Hospital admissions	Remained low	Baseline	The overall weekly hospital admission rate for COVID-19 remained low at 0.12 per 100,000 compared with 0.19 per 100,000 in the previous week

Respiratory syncytial virus activity

RSV activity remained low and is circulating at baseline levels. ED attendances for acute bronchiolitis remained low. Reporting of weekly RSV hospital admissions for the 2025 to 2026 season concluded in week 14.

Indicator	Trend	Level [note 1]	Comments
Laboratory surveillance	Increasing	Baseline	RSV positivity increased to 0.3% compared with 0.1% in the previous week.
GP swabbing positivity	Stable	Baseline	In week 28, among all tested samples, 0% were positive for RSV compared with 0% in the previous week

Other viruses

Indicator	Trend	Level [note 1]	Comments
Adenovirus	Decreasing slightly	Baseline	Adenovirus positivity (laboratory surveillance) decreased slightly to 1.8% compared with 2% in the previous week
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV)	Stable	Baseline	hMPV positivity (laboratory surveillance) remained stable at 0.9% compared with 0.9% in the previous week
Parainfluenza	Increasing	Low	Parainfluenza positivity (laboratory surveillance) increased to 3.1% compared with 2.2% in the previous week
Rhinovirus	Decreasing slightly	Baseline	Rhinovirus positivity (laboratory surveillance) decreased slightly to 7.9% compared with 8.9% in the previous week

Note 1: these indicators use the moving epidemic method (MEM) and the mean standard deviation method (MSD) to define thresholds to determine their respective levels of activity. Further information on these methods can be found in Influenza surveillance in Europe: establishing epidemic thresholds by the Moving Epidemic Method and Setting thresholds to determine COVID-19 activity levels using the mean standard deviation (MSD) method, England, 2022 to 2024. The MEM approach is well-established for some influenza surveillance indicators, however, for other indicators both the MEM and MSD are experimental and may be subject to future revision. Influenza laboratory surveillance and GP swabbing positivity have transitioned from using MEM to using MSD. These approaches will be considered alongside expert opinion and triangulation of other data sources.

Laboratory surveillance

Laboratory-confirmed cases

The Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) captures test result information for notifiable infectious diseases, including COVID-19 and influenza, from laboratories in England. The unified sample dataset (USD) stores all SARS-CoV-2 test results reported to SGSS, Respiratory DataMart and UKHSA laboratories, and is used to calculate the percentage of tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 among all SARS-CoV-2 tests conducted.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) PCR positivity in hospital settings increased in week 28, with a rolling 7-day positivity rate of 1% up to Sunday 12 July 2026. This is compared with 0.6% on the previous Sunday.

Influenza positivity in week 28 decreased, with a rolling 7-day positivity rate of 0.6% up to Sunday 12 July 2026, compared with 0.7% on the previous Sunday.

Historical positivity for influenza this week may be slightly lower than compared to previous weeks due to an ongoing data quality issue which resulted in more tests than usual being removed for this week.

Figure 1. Rolling 7-day positivity of tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 among all reported SARS-CoV-2 tests, England 2022 to present [note 2] [note 3]

Note 2: data from previous seasons is aligned by day.

Note 3: testing policy and practice may change over time which can impact positivity rates, therefore comparisons over time should be interpreted with caution. Notable changes in testing policy occurred during 2022 to 2023, which are outlined in the data quality report.

Figure 2. Rolling 7-day positivity of tests positive for influenza among all reported influenza tests, England 2022 to present [note 2]

Note 2: data from previous seasons is aligned by day.

Respiratory DataMart System

Respiratory DataMart is a sentinel laboratory-based surveillance system where participating laboratories report positive and negative test results for a number of respiratory viruses from samples primarily taken in hospital. A small proportion of primary care samples are also included in this reporting.

In week 28, data is based on reporting from 7 out of the 14 sentinel laboratories.

In week 28, 1,250 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were tested for influenza. There were 6 positive samples for influenza: 5 influenza A (not subtyped), 0 influenza A (H3N2), 1 influenza A (H1N1)pdm09, and 0 influenza B. Overall, influenza positivity increased to 0.5% in week 28 compared with 0.3% in the previous week.

In week 28, 1,815 respiratory specimens reported through the Respiratory DataMart System were tested for SARS-CoV-2. There were 12 positive samples for SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 positivity increased to 0.7% compared with 0.3% in the previous week, with the highest positivity in those aged 80 years and over at 1.6%.

RSV positivity increased to 0.3%, with the highest positivity in those aged under 5 years at 1.3%.

Adenovirus positivity decreased slightly to 1.8%, with the highest positivity in those aged between 5 and 14 years at 8.9%.

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) positivity remained stable at 0.9%, with the highest positivity in those aged between 65 and 79 years at 1.7%.

Parainfluenza positivity increased to 3.1%, with the highest positivity in those aged 80 years and over at 5.3%.

Rhinovirus positivity decreased slightly to 7.9%, with the highest positivity in those aged under 5 years at 14.6%.

DataMart data is provisional and subject to retrospective updates.

Figure 3a. Respiratory DataMart weekly percentage of tests positive for influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and rhinovirus, England [note 4]

Note 4: shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 3b. Respiratory DataMart weekly percentage of tests positive for adenovirus, hMPV and parainfluenza, England [note 4]

Note 4: shading represents 95% confidence intervals.

SARS-CoV-2 lineages

UKHSA conducts genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 lineages.

This section provides an overview of circulating lineages in England, derived from data on sequenced PCR-positive SARS-CoV-2 samples in SGSS.

The prevalence of UKHSA-designated lineages among sequenced cases is presented in Figure 4.

To account for reporting delays, we report the proportion of lineages within COVID-19 cases that have had a sequenced positive sample between 8 June 2026 and 21 June 2026.

Of those sequenced in this period:

• 25 % was classified as XFG
• 25 % was classified as RF.5
• 25 % was classified as RV.1.3
• 12.5 % was classified as RE.2

Note that low sequencing numbers, especially within the latest reporting period, will impact the accuracy of the prevalence estimates. These most recent figures should therefore be interpreted with caution.

Note that lineages will be grouped independently from their parent lineage once they reach sufficient prevalence, and may be re-grouped into their parent lineage if their prevalence subsequently falls. The data quality report contains more information on lineage groupings.

Figure 4. Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 lineages amongst available sequenced cases for England from 7 July 2025 to 28 June 2026

Community surveillance

Syndromic surveillance

Syndromic surveillance collects data from various healthcare sources where presentations are classified by patterns of symptoms compatible with specific infections. In some settings, the syndromic diagnosis can be supplemented by (rapid) testing. In this report, ED attendances are displayed. Further details and data from other syndromic surveillance systems can be found in the syndromic surveillance weekly summaries.

During the week ending on 12 July 2026, ED attendances for acute respiratory infections decreased and were similar to seasonally expected levels. ED attendances for COVID-19-like illness remained low. ED attendance for influenza-like illness remained low and were similar to seasonally expected levels. ED attendances for acute bronchiolitis (a syndrome related to RSV infection) remained low and were below seasonally expected levels.

Daily NHS 111 acute respiratory infection triaged calls decreased and were below seasonally expected levels. GP in-hours consultation rates for influenza-like illness were stable and similar to seasonally expected levels. GP out-of-hours daily contacts for acute respiratory infection decreased and were below seasonally expected levels while contacts for influenza-like illness were stable and similar to seasonally expected levels.

Figure 5. Daily emergency department attendances for acute respiratory infection nationally, England [note 5]

Note 5: 7-day moving average is adjusted for bank holidays. Grey columns show weekends and bank holidays.

Primary care surveillance

Primary care surveillance is undertaken in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC), using a national sentinel surveillance system of around 2,000 GP practices covering over 20 million registered patients of all ages across England. More information on the methodology can be found in the data quality report.

RCGP sentinel swabbing scheme in England

From week 40 2025, the RCGP sentinel swabbing scheme testing capability has been expanded to the UKHSA Bristol laboratory in addition to the UKHSA Colindale laboratory. Samples sent to Colindale are tested for influenza A and B, RSV A and B, SARS-CoV-2, hMPV, adenovirus, seasonal coronavirus and enterovirus/rhinovirus while samples sent to Bristol are tested for influenza A and B, RSV and SARS-CoV-2.

112 samples were taken in week 28 2026 through the GP sentinel swabbing, 60 were tested and 7 tested positive (Figure 6). As of week 4 2024, contemporaneous enterovirus differentiation has stopped. Starting from week 40 2025, samples with more than 7 days between the sample collection date and the symptom onset date have been excluded.

In week 28 2026, influenza positivity was 1.7%, SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 5%, and RSV positivity was 0%. 30 samples were tested in Bristol and 30 samples were tested in Colindale. In Bristol, 30% of the samples tested were from the South West.

In week 27 2026, influenza positivity was 0%, SARS-CoV-2 positivity was 1.1%, RSV positivity was 0%, adenovirus positivity was 2.1%, hMPV positivity was 2%, seasonal coronavirus positivity was 1.9%, and enterovirus/rhinovirus positivity was 12.8%. 40 samples were tested in Bristol and 52 samples were tested in Colindale.

Due to the number of samples which have not yet been categorised, data should be interpreted with caution when compared with previous weeks. The weekly positivity is not calculated when the number of samples with a result is fewer than 50.

Figure 6. Number of samples tested for respiratory viruses in England by week, GP sentinel swabbing scheme [note 6]

Note 6: unknown category corresponds to samples with no result yet.

Secondary care surveillance

COVID-19 hospital admissions

Surveillance of COVID-19 hospitalisations to all levels of care is mandatory, with data required from all acute NHS trusts in England.

SARI Watch data is provisional and subject to retrospective updates. Rates are presented per 100,000 trust catchment population. Note that as of the week 29 2026 report, COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100,000 trust catchment population from the 2024/2025 season onwards have been re-calculated using 2024 trust catchment populations. As a result of this methodological change, rates previously published for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 seasons may differ slightly from earlier versions due to updates in these population denominators.

COVID-19 hospitalisations for all levels of care in week 28 2026 based on 83 NHS trusts in England were as follows:

• the overall weekly hospital admission rate for COVID-19 remained low at 0.12 (compared with 0.19 per 100,000 in the previous week)

• hospital admission rates for COVID-19 were highest in the North West region (increasing to 0.22 per 100,000 compared with 0.11 in the previous week)

• the highest hospital admission rate for COVID-19 was in those aged 85 years and over (decreasing to 0.75 per 100,000 compared with 1.33 in the previous week)

Figure 7. Weekly overall COVID-19 hospital admission rates per 100,000 trust catchment population reported through SARI Watch mandatory surveillance, England

ECMO admissions

Surveillance of extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) admissions is based on data from severe respiratory failure (SRF) centres in the UK. Refer to the data quality report for additional information.

SARI Watch data is provisional and subject to retrospective updates. Note that the time series will reflect data from SRF units in England only from week 26 2026 until autumn 2026.

There were 4 new ECMO admissions reported in week 28 2026 in adults:

• 1 was due to sepsis (non-respiratory origin)
• 3 were due to non-infectious causes

Figure 8. Laboratory confirmed ECMO admissions in adults (COVID-19, influenza and non-COVID-19 confirmed) to severe respiratory failure centres in the UK [note 7]

Note 7: The other group includes other viral, bacterial or fungal ARI, suspected ARI, non-infection (such as asthma, primary cardiac and trauma) and sepsis of non-respiratory origin.

Vaccine coverage

COVID-19 vaccine uptake in England

The Spring 2026 COVID-19 vaccination campaign ended on 30 June 2026.

For data on the real-world effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, see the epidemiology of COVID-19 in England reports.

For COVID-19 management information on the number of COVID-19 vaccinations provided by the NHS in England, see the COVID-19 vaccinations webpage.

For UK COVID-19 daily vaccination figures and definitions, see the Vaccinations section of the UK COVID-19 dashboard.

Since the 19 December 2024, monthly data for frontline healthcare workers has been published. This covers vaccinations that were given between 1 September 2024 and 28 February 2025 and is available under the joint flu and COVID-19 vaccine uptake report.

International updates

For further information on the global respiratory virus situation see the World Health Organization (WHO) Global respiratory virus weekly updates.

For further information on respiratory viruses in Europe see the European Respiratory Virus Surveillance Summary (ERVISS).

For further information on respiratory viruses in the Americas see Pan American Health Organisation Influenza, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and other respiratory viruses. For further information on respiratory viruses in the United States of America see Centre for Disease Control respiratory virus activity levels. For further information on respiratory viruses in Canada see the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report.

For further information on respiratory viruses in Australia see Australian Respiratory Surveillance Reports.

Other respiratory viruses

For further information on avian influenza see the latest WHO update on 29 May 2026.

For further information Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) see the WHO MERS situation update.

Further information on the management and guidance of possible MERS cases.

Data sources and methodology

For additional information regarding data sources of this report refer to the sources of surveillance data for influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

Further information and contact details

Our statistical practice is regulated by the Office for Statistics Regulation (OSR). OSR sets the standards of trustworthiness, quality and value in the Code of Practice for Statistics that all producers of official statistics should adhere to.

You are welcome to contact us directly by emailing respdsr.enquiries@ukhsa.gov.uk to provide feedback and for all queries relating to this document including any comments about how we meet these standards.

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UKHSA is committed to ensuring that these statistics comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics. This means users can have confidence in the people who produce UKHSA statistics because our statistics are robust, reliable and accurate. Our statistics are regularly reviewed to ensure they support the needs of society for information.

Related links

National flu and COVID-19 surveillance reports: 2025 to 2026 season

Weekly national flu reports

Influenza in the UK, annual epidemiological reports

Epidemiology of COVID-19 in England

Weekly all-cause mortality surveillance: 2025 to 2026

UKHSA data dashboard

RCGP virology dashboard