2.6million people across the UK currently have Covid and there are 224,000 new cases every day, according to the ZOE Health Study which uses testing and symptom data from millions of participating app users. This is up 27 per cent on the 176,000 new daily cases a week earlier, reports The Mirror.
One in 25 people across the country now has Covid, according to the data. Last week’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate has the total infected at just over a million - one in 60 people - but this is now almost three weeks out of date.
Prof Tim Spector, of King’s College London and co-founder of the Covid ZOE app, told the Mirror: “We believe that the ZOE data shows we are in an autumn wave. Covid is currently affecting 4 per cent of the UK population and the trend is going up. If rates continue as they are, we are set to reach the same heights we did in the summer.
“Many of us are poorly right now as we are also seeing lots of colds. Three times as many people have colds compared to Covid.
“Confusingly, both seem to present with a sore throat in the early days, but if you are sneezing this could be a good sign and mean you have a cold, not Covid.
“If anyone wakes up with a sore throat, I’d recommend checking with a test just to be sure.”
New NHS data also shows almost 10,000 people in hospital with Covid, which is at its highest for two months. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported 273 significant outbreaks last week, up from 170 the week before.
Dr Susan Hopkins, UKHSA Chief Medical Advisor, said: “This week’s data shows concerning further increases in Covid-19 cases and hospitalisation rates, which are now at their highest level in months. Outbreaks in hospitals and care homes are also on the rise.
“Make sure you have any Covid-19 vaccinations you are eligible for and avoid contact with others if you feel unwell or have symptoms of a respiratory infection.
“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.
“If you have symptoms of a respiratory infection, wearing a face covering will also help stop infections spreading.”
Prof Spector added: “Like most people, I really don’t want to have Covid again this year, so I have already been for my autumn Covid booster and I have started wearing a good quality mask again on crowded public transport.
“When it comes to the NHS, it will depend on when the flu hits. If flu comes early, within the next month, the NHS could be in real trouble. However, if flu hits nearer the end of the year, when we predict the Covid wave to have subsided, the impact would be less.”
New NHS data also shows hospital patients testing positive for Covid-19 in England up 37 per cent from a week earlier and is the highest figure since August 3.
Covid hospitalisations are highest in the South West where they have increased by 250 per cent since mid-September.
Prof Sheila Bird, biostatistician at Cambridge University, said: “Covid-mention deaths do not yet show a take-off in England and Wales but we may anticipate that this shall surely follow in the next couple of weeks.”
