ONS: Widespread spike in UK Covid infections reflecting winter levels
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There was a “marked” increase in new Covid infections in the UK in the latest data collected on the virus by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
More than 400,000 people tested positive with coronavirus in the UK during the first week of July, according to the new ONS estimates – the higest level recorded since late February.
The ONS infection survey found that 401,200 tested positive for Covid-19 in the week ending 3 July, an increase of 56 per cent on the week before.
But the ONS data lags a week behind the NHS Test and Trace data, which suggested Covid infections continued to rise even higher in the next few days – with the UK surpassing 32,000 positive cases on 6 July for the first time since January.
The coronavirus reproduction number, or R value, in England has also increased slightly and is now between 1.2 to 1.5, up from between 1.1 and 1.3 last week, according to the latest Government figures.
The R number is a measure of the average number of people one infected person will go on to infect.
An R number between 1.2 and 1.5 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 12 and 15 others.
Around one in 160 people in England had Covid-19 in the week up to 3 July, according to the ONS estimates, rising sharply from one in 260 people the week before. The Delta variant continued to be responsible for the vast majority of cases.
Scotland battled the worst infection rate in the UK, with one in 100 people infected with the virus, up from one in 150 people the week before – the worst rate its seen since early January.
Sarah Crofts, Head of Analytical Outputs for the COVID-19 Infection Survey, said the UK was experiencing “marked increases” in infections across all four countries in the UK, driven by the Delta variant.
“These increases are widespread – across all regions and age groups in England, similar to levels seen last February,” Crofts said.
“As the vaccine rollout continues and restrictions are further lifted, it is crucial that we continue to closely monitor the data.”
The soaring infection rates data lands as ministers prepare to publish new return to office guidance for businesses next week that will greatly reduce the number of measures recommended to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Among the workplace recommendations set to move from obligatory to subject to a company’s discretion are face masks and social distancing.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak this morning urged Brits – especially younger workers – to return to the office as pandemic restrictions ease, despite the rising infections.
“I think for young people, especially, that ability to be in your office, be in your workplace and learn from others more directly, is something that’s really important and I look forward to us slowly getting back to that,” Sunak said.