About this release

This weekly release by Public Health Scotland presents epidemiological information on respiratory infection activity, including COVID-19, across Scotland. Due to the dynamic nature of all datasets included in this report, figures contained within each update may be subject to change in future releases. Any revised figures will then be reflected within the latest update.

Main Points

Overall assessment 4 November to 10 November (ISO week 45): 

• Calls to NHS24 for respiratory symptoms, while lower than in previous years, increased in the <5 age group, with the highest level among those aged <1 years. Attendances to GP practices for influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infections are at levels typical for the season.
• RSV cases have increased to 225 cases compared with 168 in the previous week. Activity within the 1-4 years age group moved from moderate activity to high. RSV related admissions to hospital have also increased this week, with the highest emergency hospitalisation rate in the under 1 age group, highlighting the ongoing importance of the RSV maternal vaccination programme.
• Influenza A test positivity remained low and stable in the community (CARI) surveillance system, with laboratory-confirmed cases still lower than previous weeks. Influenza related admissions to hospital increased to 50 this week, compared with 40 in the previous week.
• COVID-19 continues to decrease across all measures, including admissions to hospital, relative to the most recent peak in July.
• COVID-19 in wastewater is now available with data to 7th November 2024 showing variability in the levels of COVID-19 RNA, although even spikes remain much lower than those seen in July 2024.
• Since the start of the winter 2024/25 vaccination programme in Scotland, uptake was highest in older care home residents (influenza: 78.5%; COVID-19: 76.6%), and among adults aged 75 years and older (influenza: 64.5%; and COVID-19: 62.0%). There is lower uptake when compared to the corresponding week in last year’s programme in those aged 65 to 74 years, those in influenza and COVID-19 at-risk groups, healthcare workers, and social care workers.

Further information

The next release will be 21 November 2024.

Find out more

Previous Publications

Versions of the Weekly national respiratory report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Versions of the COVID-19 weekly statistical report publication released before 30 November 2022 may be found on the Public Health Scotland website.

Open data

Open data from this publication is available from the following weblinks:

• Viral respiratory diseases Open Data platform
• Flu and COVID vaccination uptake Open Data platform

Further data

• The COVID-19 Vaccine Wastage datafile was updated on 18 April 2024 to include the most recent information.
• The COVID-19 in Adult Care Homes in Scotland datafile was updated on 27 July 2023 to include more recent information.
• 28 September 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on COVID-19 infection and vaccination in pregnancy in Scotland.
• 2 March 2022 COVID-19 statistical report publication contains information on Highest Risk (shielding patients list)
• 7 November 2023 Community Acute Respiratory Infection (CARI) surveillance in primary care contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in community settings.
• 25 May 2023 Interim 2022/23 influenza vaccine effectiveness: six European studies, October 2022 to January 2023, contains information on flu Vaccine effectiveness in hospital settings.
• 13 January 2024 Estimated number of lives directly saved by COVID-19 vaccination programs in the WHO European Region, December 2020 to March 2023, contains information on lives saved due to COVID-19 vaccination