The general UK public are being urged to stay home if they fall ill this winter, and get a Covid-19 booster jab if eligible - as hospitalisations rise.
Latest Government figures suggest that the number of cases detected through mass community testing have risen over the past week - as well as hospital admissions.
Last Monday saw 781 Coronavirus patients in England admitted to hospital, an increased of 519 admitted the week prior. The seven-day total had also risen by 17 per cent from 3,434 in the week ending September 12 to 4,015 in the week ending September 19.
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The Mirror reports that data from the Zoe Health Covid Study app also suggests that cases are rising. Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, urged people to take steps to protect themselves against infection.
In a statement provided to the Mirror, she said that while Covid-19 rates were still low, the latest data for the last seven days indicated a rise in hospitalisations and a rise in positive tests reported from the community. She said: "For those eligible, the time to get your autumn booster is now. Getting a booster will give your immune system time to build up your protection against being severely ill from COVID-19 as we move into winter.
“All of the available boosters provide good protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and getting your booster sooner rather than later is crucial."
She added: “As it gets colder and we head towards winter, we will start to see respiratory infections pick up. Please try to stay at home if you are unwell and avoid contact with vulnerable people.”
The advice came as new data released today shows positive Covid results have seen a sharp rise among some school aged children since the new term started. The Office for National Statistics' (ONS) latest Coronavirus Infection Survey - for the week ending September 14 - show cases in England have increased for kids in Year 7 to 11 in a matter of days.
The modelled daily percentage of those in that age testing positive for the virus in the nine days from September 5 went from 0.67 per cent to 2.22 per cent. It is currently at its highest rate for that age range since August 1 when it was 2.24 per cent.
Although it is still some way off the 5.93 per cent recorded on July 12 before schools broke up for summer, and an NHS Trust has ordered its patients and visitors to wear face masks once more as Covid cases begin to creep back up. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS foundation Trust updated its rules due to a recent spike in the number of positive Covid tests.
This means Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital patients and visitors must abide by the strict new rules. Masks must be worn in adult inpatient areas but are not mandatory in non-patient facing areas, children’s and maternity wards and outpatient areas, the Trust said.
Alongside applying to the two main hospitals, the rules apply to a number of smaller community facilities.
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