Wales has seen a significant rise in its Covid infection rate for the second week in a row. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection survey for the week ending September 20 shows the estimated number of people testing positive for Covid-19 was 62,900, equating to 2.07% of the population or around one in 50 people.
That is a notable increase on the 39,700 (1.31%%), or around one in 75 people, for the week ending September 14. It is the second week in a row there has been a substantial rise. For the week ending September 5, only one in 110 people had Covid. It means that in the past fortnight the number of people with Covid in Wales has more than doubled.
However the Welsh Government said that as the estimates are based on a "relatively low number of positive tests", caution should be taken in over-interpreting any small movements in the latest trend.
Read more: Flu season could start earlier this winter and affect more people than normal
England also saw a rise in its Covid infection rate, though levels are described as "uncertain" in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The ONS said 1.1 million people in private households across the UK are likely to have tested positive for coronavirus in the week ending September 20, up 14% from 927,900 in the previous week.
Sarah Crofts, deputy director for the ONS Covid-19 infection survey, said: "Infections have continued to increase in England and Wales, with uncertain trends in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The increase is consistent across all age groups in England. It is too early to identify whether this is the start of a new wave of infections. We will continue to closely monitor the data."
In England, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus in the week to September 20 was 857,400, or around one in 65 people - up from 766,500, or one in 70 in the previous week. In Scotland, 117,100 people were likely to have had Covid-19 in the latest survey or around one in 45 people - up from 98,800 or one in 55. And in Northern Ireland the estimate is 23,100, or one in 80, up from 22,900.
Meanwhile the number of people in hospital with 'confirmed' Covid is on the rise in Wales. On September 27, 301 confirmed patients were in acute hospital beds with the virus - the highest number since August 21. But it must be noted that only 10 of them (3%) are being activity treated for the virus. The rest are in hospital for other reasons.
Six coronavirus patients in Wales were in invasive ventilated beds in intensive care on September 27 – four of whom were in the Cardiff and Vale UHB area, one was in Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB, and one was in Swansea Bay UHB.
Eligible adults in Wales are being invited for an autumn Covid booster vaccine. The rollout began at the start of September to improve the immunity of those at higher risk from the virus. A single dose of the vaccine is being offered to:
- Residents in care homes for older adults
- Staff in care homes for older adults
- Frontline health and social care workers
- All adults aged 50 years and over
- People aged five to 49 years in a clinical risk group
- People aged five to 49 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression
- People aged 16-49 who are carers
In line with advice from the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation eligible adults aged 18 and above will initially be offered the Moderna vaccine which protects from both the original Covid virus and the Omicron variant. Those eligible aged under 18 will be offered the Pfizer vaccine. Both vaccines will be offered at least three months after a previous dose. Adults will mostly be invited via letter to attend a vaccination centre, GP, or pharmacy for their jab.
READ NEXT
- Patient waited almost two days in an ambulance to be admitted to A&E
Hospital inspector boss reveals his biggest concerns for the Welsh NHS
The astronomical sums the Welsh NHS has paid out in compensation
More than 50 NHS Wales leaders say social care is in a 'state of emergency'
Drug shown to slow memory decline in Alzheimer's patients in 'historic' breakthrough
