New coronavirus cases across the UK have increased again since last week and are now at 203,973, data from the ZOE study has revealed.
The figures, which are based on both PCR and LFT test data, show new cases of coronavirus are up 4.5% week-on-week with infections on the rise in every region across the UK.
The ZOE study data estimates that the current R value is at 1.1 for the UK.
In England, 1 in 24 have Covid - with 1 in 35 in Wales and 1 in 36 in Scotland having the virus.
Last week, their stats showed that in England 1 in 27 have Covid, with 1 in 38 in Wales and 1 in 40 in Scotland.
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New daily symptomatic cases continue to rise in all regions, they confirmed.
But cases are now slowing in most age groups, with the exception of the 18-34 range.
The older, more vulnerable 75+ age group, are also slightly increasing.
According to the study, reinfection rates of confirmed cases are estimated to currently be around 7% - based on an average of the last two weeks.
It comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he plans to remove all remaining coronavirus restrictions in England a month early.
Professor Tim Spector, lead scientist on the ZOE Covid Study, said: ”Although the true rate of new cases, unlike the government dashboard, is currently far too high.
"It is somewhat reassuring to see signs of rates slowing down and it looks like we’ve now passed the second big peak of the year, with hospitalisations, ICU cases and deaths also continuing to fall.
"Cases need to decline more among older and more vulnerable age groups before we can start to relax, and it’s still too early to tell the effects of Long Covid as a result of an Omicron infection or the effect of the super infectious BA.2 variant that continues to increase nationally.
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"Despite the government’s hasty decision to end all restrictions this month, and the message this sends, this does not mean the pandemic is over and we should all try to be good citizens by continuing to self-isolate when ill and protect ourselves and others from what can be a really nasty infection.”
The current Covid regulations were due to expire on March 24 but Mr Johnson is considering making changes weeks before.
"Providing the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions, including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early," he today told MPs.
"It is my intention to return on the first day after the half-term recess to present our strategy for living with Covid.
"Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions - including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive, a full month early."
