Covid infections are rising across the UK, with around one in 25 people infected, according to the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics.
In Scotland, 300,000 people – one in 18 – have coronavirus – the highest number on record during the pandemic.
A subvariant of Omicron called BA.2 is now considered the most common cultivar in most of the UK.
The ONS says it’s too early to say what’s behind the spike in cases.
However, some scientists believe the increased transmissibility of the BA.2 variant, the recent easing of restrictions and waning immunity to the vaccines could be factors.
- What is BA.2?
The ONS infection survey, which will randomly test thousands of people in households across the UK, estimates that 2.6million people would have tested positive in the week ending March 5 – up from 2.4million the previous week .
There were also increases in the four British nations:
- in Northern Ireland from 5.8% tested positive to 7.8% (one in 13 people)
- in Scotland from 5.3% tested positive to 5.7% (one in 18)
- in England, an increase from 3.6% who tested positive last week to 3.8% (one in 25)
- in Wales from 3.1% tested positive to 3.2% (one in 30 people)
Older age groups are now seeing rising infection rates, with 2.9% of those over 70 in England testing positive – the highest level since mid-January.
This spring, people over the age of 75, care home residents and those most at risk over the age of 12 will be offered an additional shot to complement their protection.
These groups will be invited for vaccination six months after their last vaccination.
NHS England says rollout will start in April – with the exception of a small number of extremely vulnerable people invited in late March – with no plans to bring them forward.
Additional booster doses were given to those most at risk in Scotland this week.
The number of people with Covid in Scottish hospitals is at its highest level in 13 months. There were 1,636 patients hospitalized as of Wednesday, which is more than the peak during January’s Omicron wave.
Health officials said that while far fewer people needed critical care, the large number of Covid patients affected the availability of beds and other services.
After a steady decline since January, official data show hospital admissions have also gradually risen in the rest of the UK – with England posting the sharpest increase since late February. In Wales, registrations remain relatively stable.
Almost 12,000 people are in UK hospitals who have tested positive for Covid, but data suggests most of these patients are being treated for something other than Covid-19 itself.
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