“Hospitals remain close to capacity, with almost a fifth of beds filled due to seasonal viruses and delayed discharges to settings like social and community care,” Prof Redhead added.
NHS England said pressure on hospital capacity remained high last week with an average of 96% adult beds occupied and a total of 97,567 patients in hospital each day.
Laboratory reports only represent a small proportion of total norovirus cases, and it is estimated that for every case reported to national surveillance in the UK, about 288 in the community go unreported, an annual figure of around 3 million cases.
Norovirus levels are also higher than the same period 12 months ago, when 688 hospital beds were filled with people experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting symptoms, and also January 2023, when 395 beds were used by those with symptoms.
According to UKHSA, some of the higher numbers may be attributable to the use of PCR multiplex technology, which can detect multiple gastrointestinal pathogens in one test.
But it is likely that an unusual norovirus genotype emerging (GII. 17), along with changes in epidemiology following the coronavirus pandemic, are also contributing to the rise in cases.
At present, there is no indication that the genotype leads to more severe illness.
Last year, Ola's life was once again turned upside down when her mother, a doctor, was called back to Ukraine to help in a hospital."I have never lived alone,"
Defeat at the qualifying stages of the Champions League in August had limited Clement's summer transfer budget amid a worsening financial picture off the pitch.
Officers believe there was an altercation between a group of young people outside the store before the stabbing happened.Det Insp Paul Shortt said: "This was an
"So far, 40,000 Palestinians have evacuated from the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams, which are now empty of residents," Israel Katz said in a s