Coronavirus (Covid-19) Infection Survey, Northern Ireland: Weekly Report

The Department of Health today published the next in the series of weekly results from its COVID-19 Infection Survey (CIS). The findings set out in this report relate to modelled positivity estimates for NI for the week up to the 11 June 2022. The aims of the CIS are to estimate how many people have the infection and the number of new cases that occur over a given time as well as estimating how many people have developed antibodies to COVID-19.

The survey over time will help track the extent of infection and transmission of COVID-19 among people in the community population (those in private residential households).

Key Findings

Due to the relatively small number of tests and positive swab results within our sample, credible intervals are wide and therefore results should be interpreted with caution.

• During the most recent week of the study (5 June– 11 June 2022), it is estimated that 42,900 people in Northern Ireland had COVID-19 (95% credible interval: 32,600 to 54,300).
• This equates to 2.34% of the population (95% credible interval: 1.78% to 2.96%) or around 1 in 45 people (95% credible interval: 1 in 55 to 1 in 35).
• Modelling suggests the percentage of people testing positive increased in the week ending 11 June in Northern Ireland, likely caused by infections compatible with Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.
• In the latest six-week period, there were 11,999 swab tests taken in total from 10,186 participants. Of these, 222 participants tested positive from 182 different households.
• In the latest two-week period, of the 3,676 participants in the study, 84 tested positive from 72 households.
• The trend in the percentage of people testing positive for COVID-19 increased for those aged under 60 while the trend was uncertain for those aged over 60.

Variant analysis

The World Health Organization (WHO) have defined names for variants of concern.

Currently, variants under surveillance in the UK are:

• Omicron, including sublineages BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4 and BA.5
• Delta: B.1.617.2 and its genetic descendants

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey: technical dataset includes analysis of the genetic lineages of coronavirus seen in the samples that are sequenced. Since March 2022, Omicron BA.2 infections have been the most common in all UK countries. Between 2 and 23 May 2022, 90.1% of all sequenced COVID-19 infections were Omicron BA.2 infections, 3.8% were Omicron BA.5 infections, 3.6% were Omicron BA.4 infections, and 0.5% were Omicron BA.1 (or its sub-lineages) infections.

In response to an increase in the COVID-19 Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, we have reintroduced the main variant analysis in this bulletin. The following main variant analysis is not based on genome sequencing but is based on whether the S gene is detected in the swab tests.

The Omicron variants BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5 have changes in one of the three genes that the coronavirus survey swab test detects, which means the S-gene is no longer detected. When there is a high viral load (for example, when a person is most infectious), not detecting the S-gene in combination with detecting the other two genes (ORF1ab and N-genes) is a reliable indicator of these variants. However, as the viral load decreases (for example, if someone is near the end of their recovery from the infection), not detecting the S-gene is a less reliable indicator of these Omicron variants. The Omicron variant BA.2 does not have changes in the S gene, and therefore all three genes, or the S-gene and either ORF1ab or N, will usually be detected in infections with this variant.

In the most recent week, the percentage of people with infections compatible with Omicron variants BA.1, BA.4 and BA.5 increased in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In the same week, trends in the percentage of people with infections compatible with Omicron variant BA.2 varied across UK countries. In Scotland, the percentage of people with infections compatible with Omicron variant BA.2 increased in the week up to 10 June 2022. In England, the percentage of people with infections compatible with Omicron variant BA.2 decreased in the two weeks up to 11 June 2022, but the trend was uncertain in the most recent week. In Wales and Northern Ireland, the trend was uncertain for the week ending 11 June 2022.

More information on how variants from positive tests on the survey are measured can be found in the ONS Understanding COVID-19 Variants blog and the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey methods article provides more detail about how the virus' genetic material is sequenced.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Department of Health has been working along with the Public Health Agency, Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency and the Office for National Statistics (and its various survey partners) to extend the COVID-19 Infection Survey to Northern Ireland. Fieldwork in Northern Ireland began on 27 July 2020.
2. All results are provisional and subject to revision. Due to relatively small number of tests and positive swab tests within the sample, credible intervals are wide and therefore results should be interpreted with caution.
3. These statistics refer to infections reported in the community (i.e. private households). These figures exclude infections reported in hospitals, care homes and/or other communal establishments.
4. Estimates of the total national proportion of the population testing positive for COVID-19 are adjusted to be representative of the population of Northern Ireland that live in private residential households in terms of age, sex and region.
5. Weekly reports are to be published with findings from the COVID-19 Infection survey. It is anticipated that new and further analyses will be added to the weekly reports over time.
6. Further information about quality and methodology associated with the survey can be found on the ONS website.
7. This publication is available online:
8. Additional information is available from:
   Information Analysis Directorate
   Department of Health
   Annex 2, Castle Buildings
   Stormont
   Belfast BT4 3SQ
   Telephone:          028 9052 2340         E-mail: statistics@health-ni.gov.uk
9. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
10. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt
11. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for media enquiries only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110

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