Why are coronavirus deaths in the UK so low despite the number of cases rising?

Coronavirus cases are soaring in the UK, yet data shows that hospitalisations and deaths from the virus remain low. 

On Sunday, September 6, almost 3,000 people in the UK  tested positive for coronavirus, representing a 50% increase in a single day, and the highest daily case total since May. 

With schools and universities returning this month, many fear that the pandemic is once against spiralling out of control - yet while case numbers are high, fatalities and hospitalisations remain low. 

The latest government data shows that there were two coronavirus-related deaths in England on September 5, a huge reduction when compared to peaks of close to 1,000 deaths per day in April. 

September 6 saw 208 new cases in Scotland - the biggest daily jump for four months - but no new deaths. 

Currently, researchers aren’t sure why exactly hospitalisations and deaths remain relatively low - but they have a few working theories. 

Younger people catching coronavirus 

Analysis of data from Public Health England by The Times shows that around two-thirds of confirmed cases in the last week of August were among the under-40s, while the rate of infection among older people has fallen.

Young people are much less likely to suffer a severe infection requiring hospitalisation, and are much less likely to die from coronavirus.

Some experts believe that the age of those getting infected is thus keeping hospitalisation and death numbers down. 

Better treatment 

Since the start of the pandemic, medical professionals have thankfully learned more about how to successfully treat coronavirus in very ill patients.