Assignment title: TC1 Response to a live employer

brief

Module code: BSOM084Full name: …………

Student code: ……….
Submission date: Wednesday, 02nd February 2022 at 23:59
 ABSTRACT

COVID-19, which is caused by the Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), was initially

discovered in the UK (United Kingdom) at the start of January 2020, with person to person

transmission, and the World Health Organization (WHO) stated it a “Global Concern in Public

Health Emergency” in 2020. The mortality toll from COVID-19 in the UK was 32,313 as of May

5th, the highest in Europe, causing the UK economy to suffer a 20 percent loss in GDP. The

imposition of a nationwide lockdown is the root of this economic downturn. At the end of April

2020, mental health in the United Kingdom had deteriorated with youngsters, women and

parents of children in pre-school age group among the most vulnerable groups. Studies revealed

that individual adaption measures like social distancing, frequent handwashing with soap, usage

of face masks and hand sanitizer, and SOPs set by government regulators play a key role in

limiting Corona virus spread.

Keywords: Covid-19, Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Lockdown, Social Distancing, SOPs.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract …………………………………………………………… 2

Introduction …………………………………………………………... 4

Finding and Analysis ………………………………………………… 6

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………. 12

Recommendation ………………………………………………………. 12

References………………………………………………………………. 13

Appendix………………………………………………………………… 14

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 1. INTRODUCTION

On 31st December 2019, Chinese officials reported an epidemic of pneumonia in Wuhan City,

Chin to the World Health Organization (WHO), which was later called COVID-19. It is a virus

that is transmitted easily from one person to another. On 30th January the outbreak of COVID-19

was declared a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" by the World

Health Organization in 2020 (Atchison, 2020). COVID-19, a virus induced from the Severe

Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been found in late January 2020

with in United Kingdom, having person-to-person spread verified by late February. Following

that, COVID-19 cases skyrocketed, prompting the implementation of critical actions including

social distance, self-isolation, as well as lockdown procedures to halt the dissemination of

SARS-CoV-2 (Flynn, 2020).

The United Kingdom (UK) is world's 32nd most heavily populated country and the density of

population is expected to rise in future (Bangura, 2021). In February, 2020 public health

education movement urged people to practice proper hygiene and effective cleanliness to protect

themselves and others, like regular handwashing with soap and water and the use of hand

sanitizers when soap and water are not available (Kerawala, 2020). The government of UK

issued its action plan on March 3, 2020 which specified actions in four vital areas: controlling

the outbreak of the virus, delaying the spread of virus, to prevent the virus from further spreading

and reducing the negative effects of the virus (Alsafi, 2020). On May 5, the toll of death from

COVID-19 in the UK was 32,313, the highest in Europe, exceeding Italy's death toll of 29,029.

This figure has risen dramatically since the coronavirus lockdown was instituted on May 13th,

2020 with 95,000 people entering the UK from abroad (Campbell, 2020). Since the onset of the

Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the UK’S economy has taken a huge hit with a 20 percent

3
drop in GDP. The installation of nationwide lockdown is the primary cause of this economic

collapse. As per the Office of National Statistics (ONS), about 75% of enterprises had either

ceased or paused trading, and around 20% of those that continued to operate, reported a

significant revenue drop (James K. Jackson, 2021). The UK government's lockdown imposed

significant limits on many people’s ability to work, social contact among communities and

access to variety of services (Joyce, 2020). Early evidence points to major effects on

employment and lives, as well as income and personal debt (Statistics, 2020). There are growing

apprehensions in UK about the mental health concerns due to the pandemic (Holmes, 2020).

Psychological health in the UK had worsened by late April 2020; women, young people, and

parents of preschool-aged children are expected a priority in policies taken to avoid future mental

illness (Pierce, 2020).

Another study suggested that people who experienced low social support or abuse of any kind,

those with previously existing mental and physical health conditions, and those with low

socioeconomic status all have had significantly higher risks of moderate to severe depressive

symptoms (Iob, 2020). Individuals with eating disorders experienced a significant effect due to

the pandemic. Changes in physical activity levels, reduced access to health services, disturbance

of regular as well as perceived control, variations in food consumption, greater exposure to

provoking messages, as well as favourable illness outcomes were among the most likely causes.

Reduced emotions of control, greater sense of social isolation, a rise in unhealthy eating, as well

as a lack of social support have all been suggested as detrimental consequences on psychological

wellbeing (Branley-Bell and Talbot, 2020).

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 2. FINDING AND ANALYSIS

2.1 Total Number of People with at least one positive Covid-19 Test Result by Date

reported, UK

Discriptive satistics of total number of people with positive

COVID-19 in UK

Maximum
Statistics

Average

Minimum

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000

Total number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in the UK

The figure 2.1 shows the descriptive statistics of summation of people in UK hospitals
with at least one positive Covid-19 test result on aggregate level. It covers all medical
centers of public and private sector and are reported daily to NHS of UK. This
specifically indicates that minimum 770 people with Covid positive and maximum
39,249 patients with Covid positive were reported. On average the rate of positive Covid
case recorded in hospital is greater than 13000, which is quite shocking to perceive the
threat of Covid 19 for UK residents. This also indicates the pressure on hospitals of UK
during Covid 19.

2.2 Proportion of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospitals per day in the UK

Count of number of patients in hospital per day with

Covid-19 in UK

5
 256

Trend of Covid patients in hospitals per day

45,000
Number of Covid patients

40,000
35,000
30,000
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Days

Figure 2.2 indicates that initially the inflow of patients was very low but hospital demand
for Covid patients started growing as days passed, which means number of Covid patients
increased. This trend was positive for 4 months, the patient’s pressure started declining
and after 250 days the Covid patients inside hospitals were in less amount. It shows a
nonlinear trend and patients decreased due to adaptation measures taken by community
and SOPs imposed by the regulatory authorities.

2.3 Number of deaths in UK, of individuals who died within a month after having a positive

Covid-19 test result by date reported.

Number of deaths in UK of individuals who died in a month

after having a positive Covid-19 test result, by date reported

258

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 No. of patients who died within 28 days after having + test
result of covid-19
2,000
1,800
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202 202
1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 9/ 9/ 9/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 9/ 9/ 9/ 9/
9/ 9/1 9/2 10/ 0/1 0/2 0/3 1/1 1/2 1/3 2/1 2/2 2/3 1/ 1/1 1/2 2/ 2/1 2/2 3/1 3/2 3/3 4/ 4/1 4/2 5/
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Deaths 7-day rolling average

According to the data in the above mentioned table, figure 2.3 indicates that initially the
number of deaths rises but after some months, when it reaches to the peak point of 1800
death of people in UK, the death toll gradually starts decreasing due to the help of public
and private hospitals and other health care services. The death count tends to decrease
during Feb 2021 due to implementation of strict SOPs, lockdown, medical treatment and
other measures taken by the UK government.

2.4 Number of compiled cases of Covid-19 variant first observed in India on a weekly

basis (B.1.617.2)

No. of Covid cases in India on weekly basis

10

7
 Number of compiled cases of Covid-19 variant first observed in
India on a weekly basis (B.1.617.2)
700

600

500

400

300

200

100

0
3/15/2021 3/22/2021 3/29/2021 4/5/2021 4/12/2021 4/19/2021 4/26/2021 5/3/2021

The figure 2.4 shows that the number of Corona virus cases started rising from the last
week of the 3rd month in 2021, then it reached to the peak in the last week of the 4 th
month April,2021. However, the corona virus cases started declining in the last days of
April and normalized in the starting 10 days of the 5 th month. This trend shows that
corona virus was at its peak in these 2.5-month cycle of 2021 in India.

2.5 Case rates per million patients having at least one Covid-19 affirmative test result by
age and collection date (during a week)

Case rates per million patients with 1 covid positive test result, by
age and collection date (during a week)
700
Cases per 100,000

600
500
400
300
200
100
0
21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21
/ 20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 8 8 8 0 0 0 9 9 9
9/ 9/1 9/2 10/ 0/1 0/2 0/3 1/1 1/2 1/3 2/1 2/2 2/3 1/ 1/1 1/2 2/ 2/1 2/2 3/1 3/2 3/3 4/ 4/1 4/2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Days
Age 0-59 Age 60+

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The figure 2.5 shows that the corona virus case rate per 100,000 is much greater among
the age group of 60 years and above, than the age group of below 60 years’ people in the
UK. In both the age groups, the trend is increasing initially and tends to decline after few
months which indicates the increase in awareness about Corona virus, implementation of
strict SOPs and lockdown by the government and personal health care management by
individuals.

2.6 Number of patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospital in Greater Manchester

No. of patients with covid-19 in hospitals of

Greater Manchester

253

Trend of patients with covid-19 in Greater Manchester

180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21 21
/ 20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20 /20
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 8 8 8 0 0 0 9 9 9
9/ 9/1 9/2 10/ 0/1 0/2 0/3 1/1 1/2 1/3 2/1 2/2 2/3 1/ 1/1 1/2 2/ 2/1 2/2 3/1 3/2 3/3 4/ 4/1 4/2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Admissions 7-day rolling average

Figure 2.6 shows a daily trend of patients admitted in the hospitals of greater Manchester.
The line shows two major indicators simultaneously, admission of patients and 7-day
average of patient’s enrollment in hospitals. The trend line indicates two major spikes in
the daily admissions of patients. First is the winter season peak disease affect and second
spike might be because of changing weather as Corona virus cases decrease at the end of
Feb and at the start of March.

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 3. CONCLUSION

The analysis of the secondary data indicates a specific trend of the patients who were

admitted in UK hospitals from the start of the Corona virus pandemic till end of 2021.

The data set included all Intensive care units, Psychiatric Trusts, and the private medical

sector, which submitted its report to NHS England. The median number of positive Covid

cases recorded in hospitals from the start of the pandemic was around 13000, making the

threat of Covid -19 to UK residents rather alarming. That also reflected the extra burden

on UK hospitals during Covid 19. Factors like lockdown, SOPs, social distancing played

a vital role in the curb of Covid cases. The data also indicated that weather and

atmospheric conditions played a key role in affecting the number of Covid-19 trend in

UK.

4. RECOMMENDATIONS

The repercussion of covid-19 is still impending. The mortality and morbidity rates have

not stopped in the UK and other parts of the world, despite the circulation of vaccines and

booster doses in all over UK. The implementation of strict SOPs needs to be carried out

in order to keep oneself and others safe from this virus. In this particular case, prevention

is the best option, then cure.

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 5. REFERENCES
Flynn, D., Moloney, E., Bhattarai, N., Scott, J., Breckons, M., Avery, L. and Moy, N., . . , , (2020).
"COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom." Health Policy and Technology 9(4): pp.673-691.

Bangura, A., Renukappa, S., Suresh, S. and Al-Janabi, R., 2021. Impact of COVID-19 on UK energy
sector.

Atchison, C.J., Bowman, L., Vrinten, C., Redd, R., Pristera, P., Eaton, J.W. and Ward, H., 2020.
Perceptions and behavioural responses of the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic: A
cross-sectional survey of UK Adults. MedRxiv.

Kerawala, C., Riva, F. and Paleri, V., 2020. Videoconferencing for multidisciplinary team meetings
in the coronavirus disease era–human factors awareness and recognition. The Journal of Laryngology
& Otology, 134(12), pp.1118-1119.

Campbell, D., Perraudin, F., Davis, N. and Weaver, M., 2020. Calls for inquiry as UK reports highest
Covid-19 death toll in Europe. London: The Guardian, 5.

M. A. W. James K. Jackson, Andres B. Schwarzenberg, Rebecca M. Nelson,Karen M. Sutter,Michael

D. Sutherland,November 10, 2021, Global Economic Effects of COVID-19,
DOI:https://crsreports.congress.gov

Joyce, R. and Xu, X., 2020. Sector shutdowns during the coronavirus crisis: which workers are most
exposed. Institute for Fiscal Studies Briefing Note BN278, 6.

Office for National Statistics, 2020. Coronavirus and the social impacts on Great Britain.

Holmes, E.A., O'Connor, R.C., Perry, V.H., Tracey, I., Wessely, S., Arseneault, L., Ballard, C.,
Christensen, H., Silver, R.C., Everall, I. and Ford, T., 2020. Multidisciplinary research priorities for
the COVID-19 pandemic: a call for action for mental health science. The Lancet Psychiatry, 7(6),
pp.547-560.

Pierce, M., Hope, H., Ford, T., Hatch, S., Hotopf, M., John, A., Kontopantelis, E., Webb, R.,
Wessely, S., McManus, S. and Abel, K.M., 2020. Mental health before and during the COVID-19
pandemic: a longitudinal probability sample survey of the UK population. The Lancet
Psychiatry, 7(10), pp.883-892.

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BRANLEY-BELL, D. & TALBOT, C. V. 2020. Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
and UK lockdown on individuals with experience of eating disorders. Journal of Eating Disorders, 8,
1-12.
FLYNN, D., MOLONEY, E., BHATTARAI, N., SCOTT, J., BRECKONS, M., AVERY, L. AND
MOY, N., . . , , 2020. COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. Health Policy and Technology, 9,
pp.673-691.

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6. APPENDIX

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