UK Covid infections soar by almost 30% in a week

Covid infection levels in the UK have risen by almost 30% in a week, with an estimated 3.5 million people thought to have had the disease in the first week of July.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) based on swabs collected from randomly selected households, show that in the week ending 6 July, 2,873,600 people in the community in England are estimated to have had Covid, equating to about one in 19 people. The week before the figure was 2,154,000 people, or about 1 in 25.

Increases were also seen in other parts of the UK, with an estimated one in 16 people in Scotland and one in 17 in both Wales and Northern Ireland thought to have had Covid in the most recent week.

Overall, about 3,498,700 people across the UK are thought to have had Covid in the most recent week, according to the survey estimates, up from 2,714,900 the week before – a rise of 28.9%.

The increase in infection levels is believed to be down to the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5.

“Infections are showing no signs of decreasing, with rates approaching levels last seen in March this year at the peak of the Omicron BA.2 wave,” said Sarah Crofts, head of analytical outputs for the Covid-19 Infection Survey.

“Rates have continued to increase across the UK and among all age groups. We will continue to closely monitor the data.”

More to follow …