UK Covid infections hit 2 million for first time in three months

Covid-19 infections in the UK have hit two million for the first time in three months, new data reveals.

According to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of infections continued to increase in England and Wales in the week up to 10 October, though the trend remains uncertain in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The total number of people in private households in the UK testing positive for coronavirus was up 15 per cent from 1.7 million in the previous week.

The ONS estimates that number of people testing positive for Covid in England was 1,706,20, equating to 3.13 per cent of the population, or around 1 in 30 people.

In Wales, 117,600 are believed to have tested positive for the virus – equivalent to 3.87 per cent of the population, or around 1 in 25 people.

Latest figures also suggest some 44,200 have tested positive for the virus in Northern Ireland, equating to 2.41 per cent of the population, or around 1 in 40 people.

In Scotland, the estimated number of people testing positive for coronavirus was 144,400 – corresponding to 2.74 per cent of the population, or around 1 in 35 people.

According to the ONS, the percentage of people testing positive for Covid-19 continued to increase in Yorkshire and The Humber, the West Midlands, and the south east.

The percentage of people testing positive for the virus increased in all other English regions in the two weeks up to 10 October 2022, but the trend was uncertain in the most recent week.

Infection figures also continued to increase in those aged 25 to 34 years and 50 to 69 years in England.

For those aged school Year 12 to 24 years and 35 to 49 years, the percentage of people testing positive increased in the two weeks up to 10 October, but the trend was uncertain in the most recent week.

In those aged school Year 7 to school Year 11, and those aged 70 years and over, positive tests decreased in the week ending 10 October 2022.

For those aged 2 years to school Year 6, it also decreased in the two weeks up to 10 October, but the trend was uncertain in the most recent week.

In Wales, meanwhile, the percentage of people testing positive for coronavirus increased across all ages over recent weeks.

Though the number of positive tests increased over recent weeks in Northern Ireland for those aged 60 and above, the trends were uncertain for children and young adults.

In Scotland, the percentage decreased in young children and increased in older people. The trends were, however, uncertain for other age groups.

It comes just one day after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) National Flu and Covid-19 surveillance report showed that cases of flu had climbed quickly in the past week, indicating that the season has begun earlier than normal.

Covid activity appeared to have fallen “encouragingly” this week, the UKHSA added, citing surveillance indicators.

The number of acute respiratory infection incidents (suspected outbreaks) decreased in England in week 41 to 347 compared to 370 in the previous week.

In addition, the Covid hospital admission rate for week 41 was 11.75 per 100,000 population, a decrease from 12.53 in the previous week.

Hospital admission rates for the virus are highest in the south west, with a rate of 15.96 per 100,000 population.

Around 33 million people are eligible for the flu vaccine and 26 million people are eligible for the Covid-19 booster.