Brits must start wearing face masks again as Covid cases keep rising to avoid a lockdown, a world-leading immunologist has warned.
Covid-19 cases have spiked by 29 per cent in just one week, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics published today.
An estimated 3.4million people in private homes have had the virus in the week up to July 6 and 7 - up from 2.7 the previous week.
The jump is likely caused by increases in infections compatible with Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5, experts said.
It comes as everyone aged over 50 will be offered a Covid booster and flu jab this autumn as health bosses brace themselves for another difficult winter.
Professor Denis Kinane, a world-leading Immunologist and founding Scientist of Cignpost Diagnostics, told the Mirror that face masks must return and urged people to exercise social responsibility.
When asked if we need to start wearing face masks again, Prof Kinane said: "Yes, where appropriate. The virus will continue to evolve and develop structural changes that make it invisible to our immune system, whether we have gained immunity through vaccination or natural previous Covid infections.
"We have no indications yet that a step change in disease severity is on the way, but we do know that vaccine immunity begins to wane at three months and in most cases is markedly reduced or non-existent at five months.
"Even though immunity wanes, it can come back quickly after the person contracts the virus again.
"No one wants to return to full lockdowns, so taking reasonable precautions and being socially responsible is vital.
"This includes using face masks, especially in enclosed and crowded spaces, and where people mix and vocally interact."
It comes as Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE Health Study, told the Mirror: "I would advise people to wear high-quality FFP2 and FFP3 masks in crowded or poorly ventilated places to lower their risk of infection."
The ONS figures released on Friday also show that one in 19 people in England had the virus last week, compared to one in 17 in Wales, one in 17 in Northern Ireland and one in 16 in Scotland.
The percentage of positive tests is rising in most age groups, although the trend was more uncertain in Scotland.
The East of England saw the sharpest rise, shows estimates, with cases increasing week-on-week in all regions of the country.
