Covid numbers rise by a third in a week in England
Covid infections have risen by more than a third in a week, official data shows, with one in 28 people carrying the virus in Britain’s worst-affected boroughs.
Statisticians from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate that more than 1.5 million people were infected in England on any given day of the week to 3 October.
The number of cases jumps by more than 36 percent over the 1.1 million recorded the week before. They also rose in Wales and Northern Ireland, but the trend was “uncertain” in Scotland, experts said.
They were highest in the most vulnerable older age groups, which “need to be monitored closely as we move through the colder months,” they warned.
About 3.57 percent of people living in Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland – all in Cumbria – were infected during the week.
Experts fear that the situation will accelerate in the coming weeks and experts have already called on ministers to introduce stricter rules to curb the spread of the virus.
Some hospitals have already reset mask requirements for visitors and patients. Others have brought back social distancing guidelines, in scenes reminiscent of the darkest days of the pandemic.
It comes amid looming NHS strikes, with Health Minister Thérèse Coffey last night telling nurses unhappy with their pay that they are free to leave.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) statisticians estimate that more than 1.5 million people in England were infected on any given day of the week up to October 3.
A total of 109,700 people had the virus in Scotland, down 3 percent from the 113,000 recorded the week before. 74,900 had it in Wales, while 45,100 had it in Northern Ireland.
Cases were highest in the most vulnerable older age groups, who “need close monitoring as we move through the colder months,” experts warned
Sarah Crofts, deputy director of the Covid-19 Infection Survey, said: ‘Infections have risen again in much of the UK, continuing the pattern of steady increases seen in recent weeks, although Scotland and the North East of England had uncertain trends in the last week.
‘We have also seen another notable rise in infections among older age groups in England and Wales, underscoring once again the need for close monitoring as we move through the colder months.’
After the areas in Cumbria, Tameside in Greater Manchester had the highest infection rate in the UK, with 3.31 percent carrying the virus during the week.
It was followed by Halton, Warrington and Trafford in Greater Manchester (3.26 percent), Cheschire West and Chester (3.22 percent) and Boston, East Lindsey, Lincoln, North Kesteven, South Holland, South Kesteven, West Lindsey in Lincolnshire (also 3.22 percent).
By comparison, the least affected areas were Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire in Scotland, where 1.43% were infected.
A total of 109,700 people had the virus in Scotland, down 3 percent from the 113,000 recorded the week before. 74,900 had it in Wales, while 45,100 had it in Northern Ireland.
In the UK, Covid was most common in people aged 70 and over, with 3.7 percent in the infected age group.
They were followed by 50 to 69 year olds (3 percent), 16 to 24 year olds (2.9 percent) and 25 to 49 year olds (2.7 percent).
Children aged seven to 11 had the lowest infection rate: only 1.5 percent of students were infected with the virus.