Update to COVID-19 reporting

As part of the continuous review of data produced by Public Health Scotland (PHS), measures relating to the prevalence of COVID-19 and associated hospitalisations have been adapted within the COVID-19 weekly statistical report and our COVID-19 dashboard.

PHS now present the ONS COVID-19 Infection Survey (external website) as the lead indicator of COVID-19 community prevalence in Scotland within the PHS COVID-19 weekly statistical report. The previously used indicator of LFD/PCR positive test results are only indicative of trends and do not present an accurate presentation of community prevalence.

Furthermore, several measures will no longer be shown on the COVID-19 dashboard, including positive cases by episode of infection/test type, positive tests and cases by local neighbourhood. These will still be available via our Open Data tool.

This is necessary as a result of changes in COVID-19 policy and practices, including changes to asymptomatic testing and testing within hospitals wherein only specific groups are required to test.

COVID-19 hospitalisation measures have also been refined and updated so that a more accurate and real-time measure of patients in hospital ‘because of’ COVID-19 can be presented. As of Thursday 22 September 2022, we will report only on community-acquired hospital admissions in our weekly report and on the COVID-19 Dashboard.

Further information and rationale for the decisions can be found in an accompanying blog published by PHS’ Data Teams.