The variety of Covid infections in England and Scotland is continuous to rise however the general image throughout the entire UK stays blended, the newest information reveals.
A complete of three.1 million – or roughly one in 17 – folks in England have been prone to have had coronavirus within the week to 13 July. It represents a small enhance on the determine of two.9 million – or one in 19 – folks the week earlier than.
Covid additionally stays prevalent in Scotland, the place 340,900 folks have been estimated to have had the virus within the week to 14 July, or about one in 15. It’s the highest estimate for Scotland since April.
In Wales, infections have plateaued at 183,200 or about one in 17 folks, which is analogous to 183,500 within the earlier week. In Northern Ireland, infections have dropped to an estimated 88,400 folks, or one in 20, down from 107,600, or one in 17.
Kara Metal, the ONS senior statistician for the Covid An infection Survey, mentioned: “Infections have, general, continued to extend in England, reaching comparable ranges to these seen in April throughout the BA.2 wave. Nevertheless, we’re seeing some unsure traits within the newest information throughout the opposite UK international locations, some English areas and amongst some age teams.
“It’s too early to say if this most up-to-date wave is beginning to peak, however we are going to proceed to intently monitor the information.”
The mixed information means 3.8 million folks in personal households within the UK have been estimated to have had Covid within the week to 14 July, up 7% from 3.5 million the earlier week. Whereas hospital numbers seem to have levelled off, there have been calls for the return of infection control measures, together with mask-wearing and higher sick pay amid concern about rising circumstances and new variants.
Prof Rowland Kao, the chair of veterinary epidemiology and information science at Edinburgh College, predicted “way more tense circumstances” within the autumn and winter and referred to as for larger precautions.
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“Something we are able to do to maintain issues down now could be useful,” Kao mentioned. “I imply testing, isolating if optimistic, and being respectful of bodily distance, notably in high-risk settings. FFP2 masks in these settings can be a good suggestion, although that can also be private alternative.”
The present estimate is the best for complete infections since mid-April, however continues to be beneath the report excessive of 4.9 million seen on the peak of Omicron BA.2 wave on the finish of March.
The UK has endured three main waves of Covid since December. The primary, pushed by the unique Omicron variant, BA.1 peaked in January however was swiftly adopted by a second wave, fuelled by the Omicron subvariant, BA.2. The newest wave started in June with two descendants of BA.2, named BA.4 and BA.5, however of those, BA.5 is spreading quickest. Based on a report on Friday from the UK Health Safety Company, the BA.5 variant is now dominant in England, accounting for 79% of circumstances.
The figures come as polling suggests public concern about Covid has fallen to its lowest stage for the reason that begin of the pandemic. Two-thirds of individuals surveyed mentioned they have been involved in regards to the threat coronavirus posed to the nation, down from 71% in Match, in accordance with information compiled by the polling firm Ipsos.
Likewise, 56% of respondents mentioned they have been involved in regards to the threat the virus posed to folks, down from 59%.
