Two million people are currently suffering from Covid in the UK - the highest number since July.
Figures compiled by the Office for National Statistics show that the number of people suffering from the coronavirus in the week ending October 10 increased by 15% from the previous week, when the number was 1.7m. Although the number of sufferers is the highest since the end of July, it's still way lower than early July, when the wave caused by the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants of the virus caused cases to peak at 3.8m.
Although cases are rising, the ONS figures could show that there are signs the rate of increase may be slowing, and there's a mixed picture depending on where you live and how old you are, according to Walesonline.
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Infection rate figures which relate to cases in private households are continuing to increase in England and Wales, but the trend is uncertain in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The jump of 15% is smaller than those seen in the past few weeks and comes as separate figures show the recent rise in Covid-19 hospital patients may have levelled off.
Sarah Crofts, ONS deputy director for the Covid-19 infection survey, said: “Infections have continued to increase across England and Wales, with uncertain trends in Northern Ireland and Scotland. Though infections have increased overall in England, it is a mixed picture across regions and age groups. She added: “It is too early to say from the data whether overall recent rises are starting to slow. We will continue to monitor the data closely.”
Infection rates in England are highest among 50 to 69-year-olds, with 3.9% likely to have had Covid-19 in the week to October 10, or around one in 25. This is up from 3.0%, or one in 35. Rates are also estimated to have increased among 25 to 34-year-olds. However, they have fallen among over-70s and children between school Year 7 and 11.
NHS data is showing that the current rise in the number of people in hospital with Covid-19 might have levelled off. A total of 10,387 patients testing positive for coronavirus were in hospital in England as October 19, down 2% from 10,608 a week earlier and is the first week-on-week fall for just over a month. Covid-19 hospital data is published once a week, so it will be some time before enough data is available to see evidence of a clear trend.
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