COVID-19 caused diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to fall by nearly a third compared to the previous year, new data has revealed.Public Health England (PHE) said the disruption to sexual health services and changes in behaviour during the pandemic caused diagnoses to decrease by 32% in 2020 compared to 2019.PHE said STIs that required a clinical in-person assessment saw the greatest drop in diagnoses - ranging from 40-49% - while STIs that could be diagnoses using self-sampling kits feel between 20-29%.The data shows there was a 25% fall in sexual health screens in 2020, with face-to-face consultations falling by 35% since 2019. However, internet consultations doubled over the same time period.However it warned that overall STI diagnoses remain high, with the highest rates seen in young people aged 15-24 years, people of Black ethnicity, and gay and bisexual men.Thousands of children and young people living with a brain condition caused by exposure to alcohol while in the womb are in desperate need of dedicated and joined up support.
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