Stealth Covid is driving a huge surge in cases of the illness, with the relaxation of conditions across the country fuelling the new wave. Mass vaccination means that hospitalisation and death rates remain low, while the number of people catching the virus has risen 48% week on week.
That said 12,000 people in hospitals in England have Covid and the latest figures show 726 people died in a week with Covid.
Latest data shows that the worst-affected areas are in Scotland, with Na h-Eileanan Siar recording a rate of 2,252.8 cases per 100,000 people - 2.5 times the rate in England's worst hotspot. In the past seven days 444,201 people have tested positive for the virus - a rise of more than 144,000 compared to the previous week, reports The Mirror.
