Covid deaths across the UK have risen sharply, with 41 coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the week ending October 2. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) figures show Covid cases rose by 13.5% week on week to October 7, while deaths increased by 46.4% week on week to October 2, and hospital admissions rose by 33.5%.
Rise in hospital cases and the XFG Stratus variant
Recent data also points to a rise in Covid cases in America, with a significant number likely to be the XFG Stratus variant. Throughout September, the UKHSA confirmed that the rate of positive Covid tests in hospitals increased from 5.9% to 7%, with more than half attributed to the American Covid, or Stratus, variant of XFG – first identified last January and which has since spread worldwide.
Weekly death toll trend
The latest UKHSA Covid dashboard figures suggest that weekly deaths have been steadily rising over the past month, reaching 41 by October 2. This is up from 28 on September 25, 20 on September 18, 11 the previous week, and just six on September 4, according to Yorkshire Live.
Comparison with last year and NHS symptoms
Despite the recent increase, Covid deaths have not yet reached the same peak as this time last year, when fatalities reached 102 for the week ending October 3, 2025. Like other viral infections such as flu and norovirus, Covid tends to spread most easily during colder months, which is why winter typically sees the largest surge in cases as temperatures start to drop.
The NHS has listed the following symptoms of Covid to watch out for, including those associated with American Covid strains:
- a high temperature – you might feel hot, cold or shivery, or your skin may be hot to touch on your chest or back (you don't need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
