What should you know about coronavirus numbers?

A case count depends on who is being tested, how easily people can access testing, and how results are reported. Hospital admissions and deaths reflect more serious illness, but they may be recorded after infection began. A rise or fall can therefore lag behind what people are experiencing day to day. Numbers also combine people with different ages, health conditions, vaccination histories and access to care. They are useful for spotting broad patterns, not for judging one person’s symptoms.

Your own symptoms still deserve attention even when reported activity seems low. COVID-19 can include cough, fever, headache, fatigue or a general feeling of being unwell. A [COVID-19](/conditions/covid-19/) assessment is based on your history, examination and, when appropriate, testing rather than a headline figure.

Check that an update states the location, date, measure and source before comparing it with another report. Follow current local health advice about testing, staying home when unwell and protecting people at higher risk. Rest, drink fluids and monitor how you feel. If symptoms persist, worsen or you have a condition that increases your risk of severe illness, contact a clinician promptly. Do not delay care because a population number appears reassuring.

Seek urgent medical help for trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, new confusion, inability to stay awake, or lips or skin that look blue or grey. Arrange medical advice for worsening fever, dehydration, marked weakness, or symptoms that improve and then return. A clinician can also assess a cough or fatigue that continues after the acute illness and consider problems such as [Pneumonia](/conditions/pneumonia/) or [Long COVID](/conditions/long-covid/).

Ask which local figures are relevant to your situation, whether testing or treatment is appropriate, and which changes should trigger a review. Tell the clinician when symptoms began, whether they are improving, and any health conditions or medicines you take.