Covid infections have risen again but at a much slower rate than in the last three weeks, the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics have shown.
Amid widespread speculation that the UK is at the start of a new wave of Covid-19, England and Northern Ireland have seen a rapid increase in coronavirus infections. However the ONS said its latest infection survey suggested that the trend was uncertain in both Scotland and Wales.
The latest hospitalisations figures however show that the number of people in hospital with Covid is rising rapidly in Wales - double the number two weeks ago - although most of those infections are incidental and the patient is being treated for another reason, apart from Covid.
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The ONS' infection survey for the week ending September 26, which is based on a random sample, suggested that 2.09% or 1 in 50 of Wales population had Covid that week. That is up slightly on 2.07% on the week before, however a much slower rate of change than in the preceding weeks.
England however saw a much more rapid rise, up from one in 70 people with Covid a week earlier to one in 50 - a virtually identical level to Wales today. Scotland has slightly more Covid infections at one case for every 45 people and Northern Ireland slightly more again at one in 40.
The rise in majority of areas means the total number of people in private households in the UK estimated to be positive for coronavirus stood at 1.3 million in the week ending September 26, up 25% from 1.1 million in the previous week.
Experts warned there has been a 'marked increase' in the most vulnerable over-70s, who will be closely monitored over the coming winter months.
Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said anyone with a cold-like illness should wear a face covering in public.
She added: "If you are unwell, it is particularly important to avoid contact with elderly people or those who are more likely to have severe disease because of their ongoing health conditions."
The number of patients in hospital with Covid has risen rapidly in Wales up from a low point of 172 on September 15 to 437 on October 4, the most recent day for which figures are available. However only 29 of these patients are actively being treated for Covid-19.
Only eight Covid patients are in intensive care beds, however the majority of these are being treated for Covid-19.
It comes as research suggests that a smaller percentage of the Welsh population has contracted Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic than in England.
A new report by the Welsh Government's scientific advisors, drawing on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey, found that around 57% of the population of Wales had been infected with the virus between April, 2020, and February, 2022, whereas in England it was 71%.
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