The UK's Covid infection rate has fallen for the first time in two months, new data suggests. It comes after Wales' rate peaked according to data released last week, following a month of worrying rises.
The latest infection survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that in the week ending July 20, Wales has seen infections fall to 156,200, or one in 19 people, down from 183,200, or one in 17 during the week ending July 13.
Although the declining rate shows the current wave has peaked, prevalence of the virus still remains high. Infections are not yet on a clear downwards trend in all parts of the UK. You can get more health news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
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Across the UK around 3.2 million people in private households are estimated to have had Covid-19 in the week to July 20/21, down 16% from 3.8 million in the previous week, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is the first time total infections have fallen since the week ending May 28.
The current wave has been driven by the BA.5 Omicron subvariant, which is now the dominant form of Covid-19 in the country. High levels of coronavirus antibodies among the population - either from vaccination or previous infection - mean the number of people seriously ill or dying from the virus remains low.
An estimated 2.6 million people in England were likely to have had coronavirus in the week to July 20, the equivalent of around one in 20, the ONS said. This is down from 3.1 million, or one in 17, a week earlier.
In Scotland, 272,000 people were estimated to have had the virus in the most recent week, or around one in 19. This is down from 340,900, or one in 15. Northern Ireland is the only UK nation to have seen a week-on-week rise in prevalence, though the ONS described the trend as "uncertain". Infections there have increased to an estimated 113,400 people, or one in 16, up from 88,400, or one in 20.
Meanwhile, Wales has seen infections fall to 156,200, or one in 19 people, down from 183,200, or one in 17. The latest data taken from StatsWales on July 29 show that hospital admissions for Covid have fallen in Wales. On July 21, 1,008 patients were in hospital beds testing positive for the virus. However, by July 28 the figure reduced to 788.
It is important to look at the amount of patients in hospital who are being "activity treated" for the virus. When it comes to acute hospitals, of the 314 confirmed cases of Covid, just 58 were being actively treated for the virus. This is down on the 65 being actively treated for the virus the week before.
The number of people becoming seriously unwell with Covid appears to have slightly increased since last week. On July 21, 14 Covid patients were needing an invasive ventilated bed in intensive care. However, on July 18, the figure was 18.
Betsi Cadwaladr UHB and Cardiff and Vale UHB had the most cases with five, followed by Hywel Dda LHB and Swansea Bay UHB with three each. Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB had two while Aneurin Bevan UHB and Powys Teaching LHB each had zero.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UK Health Security Agency deputy director of public health programmes, warned that the virus had "not gone away". He added: "We really want to see further declines in the coming weeks and months. People aged 75 and over remain at particular risk of severe disease if they are not up to date with their vaccinations. We urge anyone who is not up to date with their jabs to come forward to give themselves the best possible protection."
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